The navigation restrictions introduced by Russia in the Kerch Strait in relation to the bridge construction caused Ukrainian ports to sustain losses, and will be challenged in a court, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Yuriy Lavreniuk said at a meeting with sea and river port trade unions on August 1.
“The Ministry of Justice, as part of existing lawsuits against Russia, has singled out the problem of Kerch Strait closure and restricted navigation. Currently, a lawsuit is being prepared and losses being calculated in funding shortfall of the commercial ports in Mariupol and Berdiansk,” Lavreniuk was quoted by the ministry’s spokesperson as saying.
It emerged in June that the Russian Transport Ministry was drafting an order to close the Kerch Strait’s navigation route, Kerch-Yenikal canal, for 23 days in August and September 2017 to put up a bridge arc.
The Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry complained to the International Maritime Organization that such Russian activities could cause significant damage not only to navigation safety but to Ukraine’s national security in general.
