Naval clash raises Moscow-Kiev tensions

1 Nov 25: Three Ukrainian vessels – tug boat and two gunboats – leave Odessa bound for Mariupol

2 Moscow blocks Kerch Strait with tanker, saying Ukrainian ships entered Russian territorial waters without permission

3 Russian patrol boats seize ships after opening fire. Ukrainian navy says six sailors injured –
Russia puts figure at three

Moscow accuses Ukraine of “pre-planned provocation”, but Kiev claims it informed Russians in advance of plan to move ships


Odessa: Ukraine’s main naval base since loss of Crimea

CRIMEA
Annexed by Russia in 2014.
40,000 Russian troops stationed

Sevastopol: HQ of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet

Sea of Azov: 80% of Ukraine’s exports pass through sea

Simferopol

BLACK SEA

Berdyansk

Mariupol

Sea of Azov

Kerch Strait Bridge: New bridge has cut cargo shipments to Mariupol by 27% and Berdyansk by 47% since construction began in 2015, costing Ukraine up to $40m every year

UKRAINE

Area held by Russian-backed separatists

Donetsk

Rostov

RUSSIA

At least 10 warships and up to 40 patrol boats reportedly deployed to Sea of Azov in recent  months

1 2 3
50km 30 miles


NAVAL FORCES IN BLACK SEA*
Ukraine			Russia
66 vessels		2,800 vessels
11,000 service members	25,000 service members


UKRAINE
RUSSIA
BLACK SEA


*As of Sep 2018 

Sources: Stratfor, AP 
© GRAPHIC NEWS