It was always just a matter of time before the smouldering conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the Sea of Azov, a body of water to the north-east of Crimea, escalated militarily. After it opened a bridge across the Kerch strait in May 2018, Russia has gradually brought the entire area under its control, causing severe economic damage to the Ukrainian trading ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk. A volatile situation morphed into an unprecedented, open act of aggression when on 25 November the Russian navy rammed a Ukrainian tugboat, seized three vessels and their crews and temporarily blocked passage through the strait.
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Norbert Rottgen: The EU’s response to Russia must be bold and unanimous
Ukrainian soldiers patrol in the front line with Russia-backed separatists in the small city of Shyrokyne, 25 km from Azov Sea port of Mariupol, on Nov. 28, 2018.
