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Crimea tensions flare after Russia seizes Ukrainian navy ships

Ukrainian legislators set to consider presidential request for the introduction of martial law in the country.

Seized Ukrainian ships - small armoured artillery ships and a tug boat - are seen anchored in a port of Kerch, Crimea. [Pavel Rebrov/Reuters]
Seized Ukrainian ships - small armoured artillery ships and a tug boat - are seen anchored in a port of Kerch, Crimea. [Pavel Rebrov/Reuters]
26 Nov 2018

Ukraine’s president is demanding that Russia immediately release Ukrainian sailors and ships seized in a standoff in the Black Sea.

President Petro Poroshenko said at a meeting of Ukraine’s National Security Council Monday that “we demand that they are urgently turned over to the Ukrainian side” and called for a “de-escalation” of the crisis around Crimea.

Later on Monday, the Ukrainian parliament is set to consider a presidential request for the introduction of martial law.

Ukraine’s navy said six Ukrainian seamen were wounded when Russian coastguard opened fire on three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait and then seized them late Sunday.

The two nations traded blame over the incident. It aggravated tensions that have soared since Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backed a separatist movement in eastern Ukraine.

A protester throws a smoke grenade during a rally in front of the embassy of Russia in Kiev, Ukraine. [Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo]
A protester throws a smoke grenade during a rally in front of the embassy of Russia in Kiev, Ukraine. [Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo]
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Ukrainian lawmakers were set to consider a presidential request for the introduction of martial law in the country on Monday following an incident in which Russian coast guard ships fired on Ukrainian navy vessels. [Alexander Shulman/AP Photo]
Ukrainian lawmakers were set to consider a presidential request for the introduction of martial law in the country on Monday following an incident in which Russian coast guard ships fired on Ukrainian navy vessels. [Alexander Shulman/AP Photo]
A man extinguishes a burning car outside the embassy of Russia after the protest against the seizure of three Ukrainian naval ships by Russian special forces. [Serhii Nuzhnenko/Reuters]
A man extinguishes a burning car outside the embassy of Russia after the protest against the seizure of three Ukrainian naval ships by Russian special forces. [Serhii Nuzhnenko/Reuters]
A man places paper boat in front of the Russian embassy in Kiev during a protest against the seizure of three of the Ukrainian navy ships by Russian special forces. [Gleb Garanich/Reuters]
A man places paper boat in front of the Russian embassy in Kiev during a protest against the seizure of three of the Ukrainian navy ships by Russian special forces. [Gleb Garanich/Reuters]
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko chairs a meeting with members of the National Security Council in Kiev. [Mykhailo Markiv/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters]
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko chairs a meeting with members of the National Security Council in Kiev. [Mykhailo Markiv/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters]
Activists attend a rally in front of the Russian embassy building in Kiev. Russia's coast guard opened fire on and seized three of Ukraine's vessels Sunday, wounding six crew members, after a tense standoff in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula. [Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo]
Activists attend a rally in front of the Russian embassy building in Kiev. Russia's coast guard opened fire on and seized three of Ukraine's vessels Sunday, wounding six crew members, after a tense standoff in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula. [Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo]
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Russian jet fighters fly over a bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula with a cargo ship beneath it after three Ukrainian navy vessels were stopped by Russia. [Pavel Rebrov/Reuters]
Russian jet fighters fly over a bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula with a cargo ship beneath it after three Ukrainian navy vessels were stopped by Russia. [Pavel Rebrov/Reuters]
An activist piles up tires during the protest against the seizure by Russian special forces of three Ukrainian navy ships, which Russia blocked from passing through the Kerch Strait into the Sea of Azov in the Black Sea. [Gleb Garanich/Reuters]
An activist piles up tires during the protest against the seizure by Russian special forces of three Ukrainian navy ships, which Russia blocked from passing through the Kerch Strait into the Sea of Azov in the Black Sea. [Gleb Garanich/Reuters]
A Ukraine army APC moves into position at an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine. [Alexander Shulman/AP Photo]
A Ukraine army APC moves into position at an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine. [Alexander Shulman/AP Photo]
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