Russian Opens Fire And Seizes Three Ukrainian Ships. Ukraine To Impose Martial Law

Daily Mail/AFP: Russian patrol ship 'SHOOTS then seizes Ukrainian navy boats injuring at least six crew' after RAMMING rival vessel and blocking key Black Sea shipping route amid growing tensions in the area

* The Ukrainian navy has accused Russia of firing at and seizing three ships in Kerch Strait off annexed Crimea
* Ukrainian boats were making their way to the Mariupol in the Sea of Azov from Odessa on the Black Sea
* The narrow Kerch Strait is only route to the shared territorial waters of Sea of Azov, which Russia claims
* Russia said it was forced to block off the strait because ships made 'unauthorised crossing' in its territory
* Ukraine's Iinterior Minister shared clip of Russians ramming tugboat saying it was evidence of aggression

The Ukrainian navy has accused Russia of opening fire on its fleet, injuring at least six crew members, and seizing three of its ships near a key shipping route off Crimea.

The conflict took place in the Kerch Strait, a narrow channel of water separating annexed Crimea from mainland Russia.

Russian forces are thought to have seized a Ukrainian navy tugboat and two artillery vessels as they made their way from Odessa on the Black Sea to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov - a shared territorial area that Russia has aggressively tried to claim after seizing the peninsula in 2014.

The Kerch Strait is the only passage into the Sea of Azov beyond it and Russia has increased its naval presence in the disputed waters since the completion of its multi-million pound Kerch Bridge.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: It looks like the Ukraine government is going to declare martial law .... Ukraine president proposes martial law after Russia's ship seizure (The Guardian).

Update: Russian television is posting a lot of videos here .... Tense standoff around Kerch Strait between Russia & Ukraine: How it developed (RT).

More News On Today's Naval Confrontation Between Russia And Ukraine

Russia seizes Ukrainian ships near annexed Crimea after firing on them -- Reuters
Russia fires on Ukrainian vessels in Black Sea; 2 wounded -- AP
Tension escalates after Russia seizes Ukraine naval ships -- BBC
Russia fires on, seizes Ukrainian naval vessels near Crimea -- DW
Russia fires on Ukraine navy ships and seizes three vessels in Black Sea -- ABC News Online
Russia fires at Ukrainian ships and captures three vessels off Crimea -- SKY News
Russian military fires on Ukrainian vessels in Black Sea, Ukraine says -- FOX News
Russia accused of firing on Ukrainian ship in naval standoff -- Al Jazeera

Reports From Ukraine

Russia seizes three Ukrainian boats, two wounded; Poroshenko gathers Military Cabinet -- UNIAN
Twenty-three Ukrainians on board three boats captured by Russia, contact with them lost -- UNIAN
Number of Ukrainian navy men wounded by Russians in Kerch Strait incident grows to six -- UNIAN
Ukraine's Navy placed on alert -- UNIAN
Poroshenko urges parliament to approve martial law today after Russia attacks in Azov Sea -- Kyiv Post
What martial law in Ukraine could mean for nation -- Matthew Kupfer, Kyiv Post

Reports From Russia

Ukrainian Naval Ships Ignored Calls to Stop, Violated Russian State Border - FSB -- Sputnik
Russian ships used weapons to stop & seize Ukrainian vessels violating territorial waters – FSB -- RT
Poroshenko Threatens to Impose Martial Law in Ukraine Amid Kerch Strait -- Sputnik
Ukraine to declare martial law after sea clash with Russia -- RT
Ukraine’s Security Council proposes to impose martial law in the country for 60 days -- TASS
All three Ukrainian Navy vessels that violated Russia’s border detained in Black Sea -- TASS
Russia and Ukraine Trade Barbs After Incident in Sea of Azov -- Moscow Times
Russia calling urgent UN Security Council meeting over clash with Ukrainian ships in Azov sea -- RT
Russia asks for convening UN SC meeting on Sea of Azov situation -- TASS
Russia Requests Urgent UN Security Council Meeting Over Azov Sea Issue -- Sputnik