Navy Command: Russia's blockade of Sea of Azov, Black Sea poses threat to Ukraine's sovereign rights

The Command of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine states that Russia's blockade of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea poses a threat to Ukraine's sovereign rights in the exclusive maritime economic zone and is a violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"Russia continues its destructive activities to destabilize the security situation in the Azov-Black Sea region, blocking a large part of maritime areas – almost the entire south of the Sea of ​​Azov and the northwestern area of the Black Sea. By issuing coastal warnings (41/22, 42/22, 43/22), Russia declared large areas of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea unsafe for navigation from February 13 to 19 in connection with exercises involving missile and artillery fire," the Naval Forces Command posted on Facebook.

In this way, Russia has once again demonstrated "abuse of international law to pursue its geopolitical goals at the expense of other subjects of international law, including Ukraine. These actions are another threat to Ukraine's sovereignty in its territorial sea and sovereign rights in the exclusive maritime economic zone. By blocking the recommended sea lanes, the Russian Federation virtually hinders freedom of navigation in these areas and the ability of vessels to enter Ukrainian seaports without impediment, especially in the Sea of ​​Azov, which is clearly a violation of both the spirit and letter of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. At the same time, Russia continues to militarize the Black Sea region, redeploying additional landing ships to put pressure on Ukraine and the world," the statement reads.

The Ukrainian Navy is ready to defend the country from the sea amid any scenarios and provocations, the Command assured.

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