Russia has fired on and seized three Ukrainian naval vessels off the Crimean Peninsula in a major escalation of tensions between the two countries.
Two gunboats and a tug were captured by Russian forces. A number of Ukrainian crew members were injured.
Each country blames the other for the incident. On Monday Ukrainian MPs are due to vote on declaring martial law.
The crisis began when Russia accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its waters.
The Russians placed a tanker under a bridge in the Kerch Strait – the only access to the Sea of Azov, which is shared between the two countries.
During a meeting of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, President Petro Poroshenko described the Russian actions as “unprovoked and crazy”.
Russia has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, which US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley says has been called for 11:00 New York time (16:00 GMT) on Monday.
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- Discussion
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This could get bad, fast. https://t.co/oAcTjinDCM
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) November 25, 2018
#Russia is now using force to enforce its illegal blockade of the #Kerch strait.
Hopefully #Ukraine will not bow down to this terror. https://t.co/eUcA8RQJTz
— Petri Mäkelä (@pmakela1) November 25, 2018
In addition to #RussianCoastGuard patrol/gunboats, Russia is enforcing its illegal blockade of the #Kerch strait with Ka-52 attack helicopters loaded with what looks like extra fuel, rockets and ATGMs.#Ukraine #Russia #KerchBlockade pic.twitter.com/106hteAYPl
— Petri Mäkelä (@pmakela1) November 25, 2018
We stand with Ukraine.
Russian invaders should be punished.
Lets launch sanctions aganist kids of Kremlin oligarchs in the West NOW.@Makeiev @20committee @JulianRoepcke @edwardlucas @MollyMcKew @Kateryna_Kruk @yevhenfedchenko @IlvesToomas @john_sipher @uacrisis https://t.co/vBzY2EwaK0
— Jakub Janda (@_JakubJanda) November 25, 2018
Today, yet again, the Kremlin reminded the world what it really is. A bully with no regard for laws and norms. Kyiv wants to take the #KerchStrait case to UNSC, and USG should support #Ukraine there. Militarily, NATO's options are limited, let's increase Moscow's diplomatic pain.
— John Schindler (@20committee) November 25, 2018
We are not going to war over #KerchStrait. Ukraine functionally has no navy since 2014. Its military progress since then, while impressive, still is not sufficient to take on Russia with even odds. I don't want a repeat of Georgia 2008. Let's be real.https://t.co/YvVRH9z1pm
— John Schindler (@20committee) November 25, 2018
By all means. As @_JakubJanda suggested, time to bring the serious pain to Russia's oligarchs. Let's take their dirty money stashed in the West away from them for good. That's a message Vova will get immediately.https://t.co/ca9FtWiMUU
— John Schindler (@20committee) November 25, 2018
NATO is not going to war with a nuclear-armed Russia over the #KerchStrait. That is not military-strategic reality, no matter what armchair generals on Twitter may be telling you.https://t.co/I0Th5Hxl4k
— John Schindler (@20committee) November 25, 2018
3 basic things to keep in mind:
1. NATO is still vastly stronger than Russia militarily (and every way).
2. Putin fears the steep domestic costs of any serious war.
3. Russia, however, has lots of nukes and is willing to use them tactically as NATO will not.#KerchStrait
— John Schindler (@20committee) November 25, 2018
Eyes on #Ukraine tonight. Anything from oil price to rotten bridge building seems to drive RU actions. Obviously picking a fight isn't done without political orders-now we all have to shine a light on general RU info spins on this to help Ukraine
PING @20committee @patrikoksanen— Stefan Laurell (@Stefan_Laurell) November 25, 2018
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