The command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Navy has said the Russian Federation once again provoked an emergency situation in the Black Sea, ignoring the norms of international maritime law.
"On July 10, 2019, the Russian Federation once again showed its true face and provoked an emergency situation in the Black Sea, ignoring international maritime law," the press service of Ukraine's Navy wrote on Facebook on July 10. "Despite the coastal message for marines regarding the closure of the area for holding Sea Breeze 2019 multinational military exercises, at about 08:00 on July 10, 2019, provoking a dangerous situation, the Russian destroyer Smetlivy entered the area closed for navigation where practical shooting of the ship's artillery of the international coalition's marine grouping was taking place, " the report said.
It is noted the crew of the Russian ship was interviewed by the Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy in accordance with the international protocol, but they pretended they had communications problems. "This fact is another reason for the international community not to see the Russian Federation as a predictable subject of international maritime law, whose systemic violations have become the norm of Russia's behavior in the Black Sea region," the command said.
