FSB: Detailed Timeline Of Provocation Acts Of Ukrainian Navy

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On November 26, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) released a detailed timeline and description of provocative actions of the Ukrainain naval group in the Black Sea on November 24 and November 25. SouthFront ptovides an exclusive translation of the FSB statement (emphasis added):

• At 16:40 24.11.2018 inside the Russian Federation’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), in about 28-30 miles southeast of cape Meganom, forces and means of the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in Crimea detected warships of the Ukrainian Navy: support ship “Gorlovka” (hull No U-753) and the sea tug “Yany Kapu” (hull No A-947), which were avdancing to the northeast in the direction of the Kerch Strait.
• At 21:30 when the group of warships of the Ukrainian Navy approached the state border of the Russian Federation, PSKA-302 (SF: Russian Coast Guard the Sobol-class patrol boat, also known as Project 12200) informed them about the procedure for crossing of the state border of the Russian Federation and the rules of navigation in the Kerch-Yenikalsky channel, which includes a filing of application to the Maritime Administration of the port of Kerch 48, 24 hours ahead and confirmation 4 hours ahead that the warships of the Ukrainian Navy did not do. The commanders of the warships of the Ukrainian Navy responded that the naval group is not planning to cross the state border of the Russian Federation and transit through the Kerch Strait.
• At 22:23 PSKA-302 informed the group of warships of the Ukrainian Navy about the closure of the navigation area near approaches to the Kerch Strait from the side of the Black Sea in the territorial waters of the Russian Federation. The group of warships of the Ukrainian Navy was maneuvering in the EEZ of the Russian Federation at a distance of 6-7 miles from the state border of the Russian Federation, .and on a heading that would traverse the Kerch Strait.
• At 02:05 on November 25 of this year, in the EEZ of the Russian Federation in the coordinates 44° 50’N 36° 29’E, pskr “Izumrud” found BAK “Nikopol” and “Berdyansk”, passing eastward in the direction of the Kerch Strait.
• At 03:45, BAK “Nikopol” and “Berdyansk” approached the area where the ships of the Ukrainian Navy were located: support ship “Gorlovka”, sea tug “Yany Kapu”.
• Until 05.30, support ship “Gorlovka” was refueling both BAKs.
• At 05:35 BAK “Berdyansk” (call sign “Schooner-175”) reported to the technical observation post (cape Takil) about the planned passage of the warships of the Ukrainian Navy (the sea tug “Yana Kapu” (call sign “Desna-947”), BAK “Nikopol” (call sign “Schooner-176”), BAK “Berdyansk” (call sign “Schooner-175”)) to the port of Berdyansk through the Kerch Strait at 06:00 am Kiev time (07:00 Moscow time).
• At 05:45, the commander of PSKA-302 informed the commander of BAK “Berdyansk”: “In order of implementation of the right of the Russian Federation, as a coastal state, to ensure security in the maritime area in accordance with paragraph 2 of Art. 12 FZ-155 of July 31, 1998 “On the internal sea waters, the territorial sea and the adjacent zone of the Russian Federation” peaceful passage through the Russian Federation’s territorial sea in the area (coordinates) is temporarily restricted as you were previously notified. We recommend that you do not cross the Russian Federation’s state border until the restrictions are lifted and mandatory regulations are fulfilled in the seaport of Kerch”.
• At 05:50, the following information was received from the commander of BAK “Berdyansk”: “In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and Ukraine “On cooperation in the use of the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait of December 24, 2003,” we have the right to freedom of navigation.”
• At 06:30, the commander of PSKA-302 informed the commander of BAK “Berdyansk” that in the Kerch-Yenikalya canal, a permissive procedure was in place to ensure the safety of navigation and was carried out in accordance with the scheduled plan, which is approved by the captain of the Kerch port. The application for passage of the strait is submitted 48 and 24 hours ahead, and is confirmed 4 hours ahead. These requirements are not met by the Ukrainian side. In this connection, the passage of the warships of the Ukrainian Navy through the Kerch-Yenikalsky Canal is prohibited (in accordance with paragraphs 20, 38 of the Mandatory Resolutions in the seaport of Kerch, approved by order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia from October 21, 2015 No. 313, in the Kerch Strait there is a permitting procedure for the movement and anchorage of ships).
• The group of ships of the Ukrainian Navy ingored this information and continued its advance in the direction of the Russian territorial sea.
• At 07:10 in the coordinates of 44 ° 52 ‘N, 36 ° 31’E, the Ukrainian Navy ships crossed the line of the state border of the Russian Federation, proceeding to the Kerch Strait (in violation of paragraph 3 of Article 25 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982, paragraph 2 of Art. 12 of the Federal Law of 31.07.1998 No. 155-FZ “On Inland Sea Waters, Territorial Sea” and the adjacent zone of the Russian Federation”).
• From 07:20 PSKR “Don”, PSKR “Izumrud” took measures to prevent the passage of the warships of the Ukrainian Navy through the Kerch-Yenikalsky channel, called the Ukrainian ships by radio and demanded that they have immediately leave the territorial sea of the Russian Federation (in accordance with art. 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982). Demands to leave the territorial sea of the Russian Federation were ignored by the ships of the Ukrainian Navy.
• At 08:35 the warships of the Ukrainian Navy were brought to combat readiness: the artillery installations were uncovered, the artillery barrels were raised at an angle of 45 degrees and directed towards the warships of the Russian Federation (in violation of Art. 11 FZ-155 dated July 31, 1998 “On the internal sea waters, the territorial sea and the adjacent zone of the Russian Federation”). The Russian side informed the ships of the Ukrainian Navy that in the territorial sea of the Russian Federation the threat of the use of weapons will be regarded as a violation of international law and the law of the Russian Federation.
• At 10:35 the group of warships of the Ukrainian Navy in the coordinates 46 ° 09’N, 36 ° 33’E reported to the headquarters of the naval base “Ochakovo” of the Ukrainian Navy that they were blocked by the coast guard ships of the Border Service of the Russian FSB, it is difficult to sail for the sea-tug, so they recommend to Gyurza-class warships shake off at maximum speeds and go beyond the navigating channel.
• From 10:35 to 18:30, as a result of the maneuvering of the Russian border ships, the group of Ukrainian ships was blocked in the vicinity of anchorage No. 471 (south of the Kerch Strait).
• At 18:30 the group of warships of the Ukrainian Navy in order to blockade running got under way and began to move 200 degrees toward exit the territorial sea of the Russian Federation, the speed of BAK Berdyansk, Nikopol – 20 knots, sea-tug Yany Kapu – 8 knots. PSKR “Don”, PSKR “Izumrud” began following up the group of warships of the Ukrainian Navy, brought to them the demand to stop (in accordance with Article 30 of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, with paragraph 2 of Art. 12 of the Federal Law of 31.07.1998 No. 155 – FZ “On the inland marine waters, the territorial sea and the contiguous zone of the Russian Federation”).
• In the period from 19:00 to 20:40 PSKR “Don”, PSKR “Izumrud” were continuing pursuit of the group of warships of the Ukrainian Navy, calling them for communication on channel 16 fm band, setting sound, light and pyrotechnic signals about stopping. The group of warships of the Ukrainian Navy did not comply with the demands to stop. (in violation of clause 2 of Article 12 of the Federal Law No. 155-FZ of 31.07.1998 “On Inland Sea Water, the Territorial Sea, and the Contiguous Zone of the Russian Federation”, Article 30 of the Law of the Russian Federation of April 1, 1993 No. 4730- I “On the State Border of the Russian Federation”).
• At 20:42 PSKR “Izumrud” warned the group of warships of the Ukrainian Navy about the implementation of preventive shooting if they continue to ignore signals and demands to stop (in accordance with Article 30 of the Law of the Russian Federation of April 1, 1993 No. 4730-I “On the State Border of the Russian Federation”, paragraph 9, 11 of the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of February 24, 2010 No. 80 “On Approval of the Rules for the Use of Weapons and military equipment in the protection of the state border of the Russian Federation, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf of the Russian Federation “).
• Due to the fact that the warships of of the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service have exhausted all the possible measures as it stands to prevent violations of the legislation of the Russian Federation by warships of the Ukrainian Navy and in accordance with the Rules for the Use of Weapons and Military Equipment while Protecting the State Border of the Russian Federation, the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf of the Russian Federation, approved by a decree of the Government of the Russian Federation On February 24, 2010 No. 80, the commander of PSKR Izumrud decided to carry out preventive firing from an onboard artillery mount toward the Ukrainian Navy warships.
• At 20:45 PSKR “Izumrud” in the coordinates 44 ° 53’47 N, 36 ° 25’76E of the Russian Federation territorial sea fired warning shots in the direction of the group target (BAK “Berdyansk”, “Nikopol”, sea-tug “Yany Kapu”) on the port quarter from the PSKR “Izumrud” from the distance 2 kbt, which allowed to see the fact of the exercising of warning fire (in accordance with clause 10,12,13 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of February 24, 2010 No. 80 “On Approval of the Rules for the Use of Weapons and Military Equipment while Protecting the State Border of the Russian Federation, the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf of the Russian Federation ”). The group of warships of the Ukrainian Navy did not respond to the demands to stop, did not come on the radio, continued moving towards the line of the state border of the Russian Federation.
• At 20:50 PSKR “Izumrud” warned BAK “Berdyansk” that in case of non-compliance with the demand to stop, it will be engaged with fire for effect. (in accordance with paragraphs 24, 25 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of February 24, 2010 No. 80 “On Approval of the Rules for the Use of Weapons and Military Equipment while Protecting the State Border of the Russian Federation and the continental shelf of the Russian Federation ”). BAK “Berdyansk” ignored the warnings.
• At 20:55 PSKR “Izumrod” in the coordinates 44 ° 51’3N, 36 ° 23’4E in the territorial sea engaged BAK “Berdyansk” under fire for effect.
• At 20:58 BAK “Berdyansk” heaved aback, the commander of the warship came on the radio, informed about the wounded on board, and request help.
• At 21:06 PSKR “Izumrud” arrested BAK “Berdyansk”, took off 7 crew members, including 3 wounded, who received first aid, the primary measures were taken to rescue of the warship of the Ukrainian Navy.
• At 21:15 PSKR “Don” stopped and arrested sea-tug “Yany Kapu.”
• At 21:27, Ka-52 helicopter of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stopped BAK “Nikopol” in the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. MPK-118 “Suzdalets” of Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation approached to the place where the warship of the Naval Forces of Ukraine was stopped in order to monitor its actions.
• At 23:21 PSKR “Don” arrested BAK “Nikopol”.
• At 00:40 on November 26 of this year, PSKA-605 delivered the wounded seamen of the Ukrainian Navy to the port of Kerch, the wounded were sent for treatment at the 1st Kerch City Hospital.
• At 01:10 the arrested warships of the Ukrainian Navy were started to escort to the port of Kerch.
• At 06:40 the arrested warships of the Ukrainian Navy were dlivered to the port of Kerch for further investigation.

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