Ukrainian border guard service reports dangerous encounter between their ship and Russia's Black Sea Fleet
The press service of the State Border Guard of Ukraine reported on the incident that happened on Wednesday involving the Ukrainian Sea Guard ship Podilia,Ukrainian patrol aircraft and the military ships and aircraft of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
According to the Ukrainian Border Guard press service, the incident happened in the northwestern part of the maritime economic zone of Ukraine. The representatives of NJSC Naftohaz of Ukraine, OJSC Chornomornaftogaz, SE Naukanaftogaz, State Ecologic Inspectorate of Ukraine and the representative of the Ministry for Temporary Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine were also aboard the Ukrainian ship.
"During the Podilia’s crossing of the Karkinitsky Bay and its subsequent approach to the Holitsynske and Odeske gas fields, warships and aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces, in violation of universally recognized principles, norms and rules of international law, performed dangerous maneuvers that hindered the legitimate activity of the frontier ship. A Russian Armed Forces Su-24 bomber repeatedly flew around the Podilia at dangerous heights," says the statement of the Ukrainian Border Guard press service.
In addition, in the vicinity of drilling platforms that were seized and illegaly operated by Russia, the Russian destroyer, Smetlivy, equipped with an artillery unit, targeted the Ukrainian Border Guard ship and carried out dangerous maneuvers accompanied by the Meridian class reconnaissance ship, Priazovye, thus preventing the passage of the Ukrainian ship.
"Despite the clearly provocative actions of the Russian Armed Forces, the crew of the Podilia acted resolutely and continued performing their tasks in the exclusive maritime zone of Ukraine," the Ukrainian border agency informed.
The Press service reported that, the State Border Guard Service has once again gathered evidence of aggression, seizure of objects and property, and the illegal industrial activity of the Russian Federation in the exclusive maritime economic zone of Ukraine.