Ukraine accuses Russia of conducting naval blockade

KIEV – Ukraine accuse Russia blocking its access to the sea as Russia prepares for naval drills next week amid rising tensions in the region.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the Sea of ​​Azov was completely blocked and the Black Sea was almost completely cut off by Russian forces.

Russia has repeatedly denied plans to invade Ukraine despite deploying more than 100,000 troops on the border. But that country has just started days of military drills with a neighboring country Belarus .

Belarus is a close ally of Russia and has a long border with Ukraine.

Also read: Ukraine Condemns Russia’s 6th Warship Combat Exercise in the Black Sea

Russian naval exercises will take place next week in two seas south of Ukraine, the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov. Russia has issued a coast warning citing missile and cannon firing drills.

“The unprecedented area in which maneuvers will be carried out makes navigation in both seas practically impossible,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. BBCFriday (11/2/2022).

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov also tweeted that the international waters of both seas had been blocked by Russia.

Tensions have been high between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea and Sea of ​​Azov regions since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. In 2018, Russia seized three Ukrainian naval vessels.

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