Ukraine backs martial law after sea clash

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• Ukraine-Konflikt Russland Kriegrecht

BBC: Die Ukraine hat in einem Teil des Landes das Kriegsrecht erklärt, nachdem am Sonntag drei ihrer Marineschiffe und 23 Besatzungsmitglieder von Russland eingenommen wurden.  

Lawmakers backed President Petro Poroshenko’s request to bring it in for 30 days starting from 28 November.

The authorities can now restrict public rallies and regulate the media. Some MPs fear Mr Poroshenko could suspend a presidential poll on 31 March 2019.

Sunday’s naval clash was off the coast of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.

Russian coastguard ships opened fire, before its special forces stormed the Ukrainian vessels. Between three and six Ukrainians were injured.

Ukraine said it was a Russian “act of aggression”. Moscow said the ships had illegally entered its waters.

The naval clash is the first time Russia and Ukraine have come into open conflict in recent years, although Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russian-backed separatists and Russian volunteers in the east since 2014.

A number of Western countries condemned Russia’s actions.

In New York, the UN Security Council met to discuss the crisis – but failed to agree a Russian-proposed agenda amid sharp disagreements between Moscow and the West.ADVERTISEMENT

What is the latest?

After heated debate in Ukraine’s parliament, 276 lawmakers voted in favour of martial law covering:

• regions bordering Russia
• the Azov-Kherson waters
• a region bordering Moldova’s breakaway Transdnistria region

Thirty lawmakers voted against the move.

The vote came after an emotional address by President Poroshenko, who promised not to restrict basic freedoms.

But he stressed he needed firm power in case of a full-scale Russian invasion.

What happened on Sunday?

This is the chronology of the dramatic events that led to the naval clash:

• In the morning, Ukraine said it had sent two gunboats and a tug from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov
• Ukraine’s navy then said Russian boats had tried to intercept its vessels, ramming the tug
• Russia accused Ukraine of illegally entering its territorial waters
• Russia scrambled fighter jets and helicopters as the Ukrainian vessels approached a bridge over the Kerch Strait – the only access to the Sea of Azov
• The bridge itself was blocked by a tanker
• In the evening, Ukraine said its vessels had been fired on and seized by the Russians. Six Ukrainian crew members were injured
• Russia confirmed it had used weapons to force the Ukrainian vessels to stop, saying three Ukrainians were injured

Russia said the Ukrainian ships were in its waters illegally because Moscow had temporarily closed an area of water for shipping.

Kiev called Russia’s actions a flagrant violation of international law, because the Black Sea is free for shipping, and Crimea belongs to Ukraine.

Ukraine also cited a 2003 Russia-Ukraine treaty on unimpeded access to the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov.

It said it had informed the Russians in advance of its plan to move its ships to Mariupol – a claim denied by Russia.In recent weeks, two Ukrainian vessels passed through the Kerch Straight without incident.

‘A difficult balance’

The incident in the Black Sea is a powerful reminder that the tensions between Russia and Ukraine are not part of a frozen conflict: they can flare up with very little warning.

Nato and Ukraine’s allies in the West have strongly backed President Poroshenko. But what can they do to influence Russian behaviour?

There will be talk of more economic sanctions. But Russia is already heavily sanctioned, and this has not encouraged it to rethink its annexation of Crimea. There will be calls for additional support for the Ukrainians; Nato countries provide training for Kiev’s military – they could presumably do more.

Und die Trump-Regierung erwog bereits vor dieser Episode, den Verkauf zusätzlicher Waffen in die Ukraine zusätzlich zu den bereits gelieferten Panzerabwehrraketen von Javelin in Erwägung zu ziehen. Es ist jedoch ein schwieriges Gleichgewicht zwischen der Unterstützung der territorialen Integrität der Ukraine zu finden Hand und das Vermeiden von etwas, das den Konflikt in einen Krieg im großen Maßstab führen könnte

Why is this happening now?

 There have been growing tensions between the two sides over navigation in the area.Russia has recently begun inspecting all vessels sailing to or from Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov.

This began after Ukraine detained a fishing vessel from Crimea in March. Moscow also says the checks are necessary for security reasons.

Ukraine has accused Russia of trying to occupy the Sea of Azov and damage Ukraine’s economy by hindering access its ports.

How has Ukraine reacted?

Late on Sunday, crowds gathered outside the Russian embassy in Kiev, some throwing flares.

At least one car belonging to the embassy was set alight.

The Ukrainian defence ministry announced that orders had been given to put the military on full combat alert.

Why are relations so bad between Russia and Ukraine?

Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

However, Russia considers a Western-leaning Ukraine a threat to its interests.

In 2014, Ukraine’s pro-Russian leader was overthrown, after large-scale protests against the government’s decision to abandon plans to sign an association agreement with the EU.

Russland annektierte dann die Krim, während sich die von Russland unterstützten Separatisten gegen den ukrainischen Staat im Osten bewegten,
Bei dem Konflikt im Osten wurden mehr als 10.000 Menschen getötet.