The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has acceded to Ukraine’s request and ordered Russia to immediately release the 24 Ukrainian seamen whom it took prisoner on November 25, 2018, and to also return the three Ukrainian naval vessels it seized in its attack. This is a major victory for Ukraine and, most importantly, for the men who have been imprisoned in Moscow for six months and who should soon be released. The four decisions in the case on May 25, 2019, were all passed with a majority of 19 to 1, with the opposing vote from Russian judge Roman Kolodkin.
