Russian and Ukrainian delegates argued over incident in Sea of Azov  during PABSEC meeting in Yerevan

ArmInfo. It is very difficult to talk about cooperation when there is tension among the member countries of the organization. This was announced on November 27 at  the 52nd meeting of the PABSEC General Assembly in Yerevan by the  representative of the Ukrainian delegation, Serhiy Khlan, referring  to the incident that occurred in the Sea of Azov between the Russian  Navy and Ukraine on November 25.

Khlan noted that the Ukrainian side expresses its protest by such  actions of Russia and requires the immediate provision of medical  assistance to Ukrainian sailors. "Such actions are outrageous, we  demand compensation for damages and we condemn the Kremlin for  increasing tensions. Russia's actions are covered by the Kremlin's  fraudulent propaganda, after all in fact an armed attack on the ships  of Ukraine was carried out. Such actions are continuation of  aggression in the Eastern Ukraine and prosecution of Cyprus Tatars.   We call on to take efficient measures to stop Russian aggression,  both on land and at sea.  Moreover, we urge you to invite an observer  to the region, "the representative of the Ukrainian delegation  stressed.

In response to this, Head of the Russian delegation Nikolay  Kolomeytsev noted that he had worked in this organization for 20  years, and to the honor of PABSEC for all 25 of its existence, this  is the only organization that has not become politicized. "Moreover,  I want to note that it is incorrect  to make political statements on  the eve of the elections. I want to note that the Ukrainian ships  entered the waters of Russia, and not near the Crimea, but on the  contrary, in the area of Krasnodar region. I suggest you read in  detail the statement of the flotilla commander and other Ukrainian  Seamen who admitted that they had entered the waters of Russia, I  propose to end the discussion and move on to the main agenda of the  day, "Kolomeytsev concluded.

To note, on November 25, the Federal Security Service of Russia  declared that three Ukrainian warships "wrongfully entered the  temporarily closed water area of the territorial sea of the Russian  Federation".  According to the Service, they are "dangerously  maneuvering, not obeying the legal requirements of the Russian  authorities." After that, the FSS announced that the Russian border  guards were taking all measures to prevent the deliberate provocation  of the Ukrainian Navy. According to the Russian side, the purpose of  these courts is to create a conflict situation in the region. Three  Ukrainian soldiers were injured, however, the hospital claims that  the sailors received "light injuries" and feel normal.  In turn, the  Ukrainian side stated that the ship of the Russian border service  "Don" carried out a ram of the Ukrainian raid tug "Yani Kapu", which,  together with two other warships, armored with artillery boats  Berdyansk and Nikopol was conducting a planned move from Odessa  Harbour to Mariupol. The incident occurred in the Black Sea, near the  Kerch Bridge. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine regarded the  actions of Russia "as a violation of the norms of the UN Charter and  the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea".  Earlier Ukraine has  repeatedly accused Russia of violating international law by impeding  free navigation in the Azov and Black Seas.