Russia summons Ukrainian diplomat over Kerch incident

Russia expresses 'firm censure' to Ukrainian charge d’affaires over naval incident in strait from Black Sea to Sea of Azov

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Ukraine's top diplomat in Russia was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Monday over the weekend incident in the Kerch Strait, a passage between Crimea and Russia.

The Russian government expressed its “resolute protest” to Ukrainian Charge d’Affaires Ruslan Nimchnsky, the ministry said in a statement on its official website.

Late Sunday, three Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea tried to enter the Kerch Strait, which is currently under Russian control, to reach the Sea of Azov.

The incident ended up with three Ukrainian servicemen wounded and the vessels seized by the Russian military.

Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea after a controversial referendum.

Turkey, as well as the UN General Assembly, viewed the annexation as illegal.

Ukraine has also blamed Russia for separatist violence in eastern Ukraine, near the border with Russia.

Kaynak: