(AP) – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk lashed out at Russia on Nov. 14, accusing it of violating an agreement that allows Moscow to base its Black Sea Fleet in a Ukrainian port.
The two nations divided up the Soviet Black Sea fleet after years of arguments following the 1991 Soviet collapse and Russia was allowed to base its fleet at Sevastopol until 2017. But they squabble periodically, with Ukraine frequently complaining that Russia is not upholding its side of the 1997 agreement.
In comments to the Kievskiye Vedomosti newspaper, Tarasyuk accused Russia of illegally appropriating extra land in the port, posting signs that read “Territory of Russian Federation” and closing off whole streets.
“This can’t but worry us,” Tarasyuk was quoted as saying.
He told the newspaper that Russia illegally occupied nearly 150 hectares (365 acres) of land around Sevastopol that are not covered by the 1997 agreement, and is renting out other land in violation of the deal.
“They are receiving commercial profits from these spaces, would should have been used for another purpose – in the interests of the Black Sea Fleet,” Tarasyuk was quoted as saying.
There was no immediate response to the accusations from Russian officials.
He also complained that Russian flags fly from parts of Sevastopol and Russian patrols march with weapons through the streets.
Russia and Ukraine frequently trade verbal barbs over a range of issues, from gas transit to their shared border in the Black and Azov Seas.
