Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the illegal activities of the Russia’s Navy in the Black Sea

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine states that since the beginning of a large-scale aggressive war against Ukraine, the Russian Federation has been increasing the illegal activities of its naval forces in the Black Sea.

In addition to capturing and destroying civil maritime vessels, bombing the territory of Ukraine from the sea, Russia has come up with a new way of sea robbery, which is

the use of naval mines as an uncontrolled drifting ammunition. It was these drifting mines that were found March 26-28, 2022 off the coasts of Turkey and Romania.

According to the results of the identification, it was established that these were sea mines, which, as of the beginning of 2022, were not registered with the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

These mines were seized by the Russian armed forces in 2014 during the military invasion and temporary occupation of the Ukrainian city of Sevastopol. Therefore, Russia, using sea mines seized in 2014, deliberately provokes and discredits Ukraine to international partners.

Thus, using naval mines seized from Russia's military depots in 2014, the aggressor is trying to hide its illegal activities in the Black Sea, contrary to the principles and norms of international maritime and humanitarian law, and to evade responsibility for war crimes and piracy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasizes that the deliberate use by Russia of drifting sea mines turns them into a de facto weapon of indiscriminate action, which threatens, first of all, civil navigation and human life at sea in the whole waters not only of the Black and Azov Seas, but also of the Kerch and Black Sea Straits.

The responsibility for the use of drifting sea mines, as well as for their unpredictable consequences, lies solely with the Russian Federation and its naval forces.

Ukraine insists on bringing Russia to international responsibility for illegal activities in the Black Sea, war crimes and, in particular, the use of sea mines as indiscriminate weapons spread uncontrollably in the Black Sea.

On the use of drifting mines by Russia in the Black Sea, Ukraine, adhering to its international obligations, Ukraine has notified the International Maritime Organization during an extraordinary session of the Council and within the framework of IMO Legal Committee, as well as international partners through the channels the International automated service (NAVTEX)