Worrying escalation in the Sea of Azov: Russian naval vessels "carried out openly aggressive actions against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy" today, including "ramming" a Ukrainian tugboat, reports Ukrainian Navy. My August dispatch for important context: rferl.org/a/sea-of-troub… 
The Ukrainian Navy said its ships were carrying out a planned relocation from the Black Sea port of Odesa to the Sea of Azov port of Mariupol when Russian FSB vessels intercepted them. Photos by Russia's FSB, via @interfax_news, show the dangerous maneuvering in the water.
For its part, Russia's FSB claimed that the Ukrainian vessels crossed into a "temporarily closed area" of the sea. This is tricky, because the Sea of Azov is an inland sea "jointly controlled" by the two countries under a 2003 agreement. More/less, either side can go anywhere.
Ukraine's Navy says the tugboat rammed by Russian coast guard ship "Don" has sustained damage to its engine, shell plating and guard rail, and a life raft was lost. navy.mil.gov.ua/prykordonni-ko…
Now Russia's reportedly closed Kerch Strait to merchant vessels after Ukrainian-Russian incident, which appears to have actually occurred in strait itself & not Sea of Azov. This may be what Moscow wanted, a pretext to close this important passage.
Today's incident b/t Russian & Ukrainian vessels marks the most serious in the Sea of Azov perhaps ever. Tensions have been mounting since May, when Russia began detaining merchant ships heading to Ukrainian ports, more than 150 in all, some for days, causing huge econ losses.
Of course, that was the point: Russia wants to exert economic pressure on Ukraine to destabilize the strategic southeastern region, rather than go the military route, which would make its aggression much more obvious and likely lead to more Western sanctions.
However, should Russia decide to resort to military action in Sea of Azov, it's ready: It has ~56 vessels, including war ships from Black Sea Fleet & Caspian Flotilla, in Azov waters. Ukraine, significantly outnumbered, has few navy vessels & patrol boats.
And that's why Ukraine was transferring the three navy vessels from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov today, when the maritime incident occurred. Here's more on what's been happening in the Azov over the past several months: rferl.org/a/sea-of-troub…
Recognizing that it's outgunned in the Sea of Azov, Ukraine has beefed up security along its southeast coast from Mariupol to Berdyansk, moving troops and weapons there. It's also conducted several military exercises, including with attack helicopters, along the coast.
Ahead of today's incident, Ukrainian Navy says it radioed FSB coast guard post at 3:58am to notify of it of 3 Ukrainian vessels en route to Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov. It got no answer. Second radio call at 4:07am also got no response. facebook.com/navy.mil.gov.u…
Local Crimean news site Kerch Info reports a large ship is now physically blocking the Kerch Strait, the only passage in and out of the Sea of Azov, as three Russian naval vessels and two military helicopters circle the Russian-built bridge there. kerchinfo.com/neizvestnoe-su…
Ukraine: Russian Ship Rams Navy Tugboat In Sea Of Azov rferl.org/a/ukraine-russ…
This photo going around showing damage to a Russian coast guard vessel, with some claiming it occurred during today's incident. But it isn't the "Don" (which has number 353 on hull, not 354) that Ukrainian Navy reported and showed in photo ramming its tug.
It appears something did happen to this Russia coast guard vessel today. No damage in video shown on Russian state TV. (1st pic; video here: ) But in Kerch Info photo, looks to be damaged on starboard side. (2nd pic) Did Russia's Don also ram its own boat?
Ukrainian Navy Commander Ihor Voronchenko says his crews and vessels near the Kerch Strait are on combat alert and ready for possible assault. This is an intense and I believe unprecedented situation in the waters near the strait and Sea of Azov. radiosvoboda.org/a/news-na-kate…
Video of Russian fighter jets buzzing the Kerch Bridge anRussiahttpsd Kerch Strait where today’s incident occurred. Incident being a Russian ship ramming a Ukrainian tugboat.
🚨 This marks a more serious escalation in the Sea of Azov: Ukrainian navy now says Russians opened fire on their cutter “Berdyansk,” damaging the naval vessel and injuring one serviceman.
Ukrainian President @poroshenko rep for Crimea now says the Ukrainian Navy is fighting off Russian attack to seize the vessels. This info is unconfirmed and coming from Ukrainian sources only, FYI.
Video purporting to show the moment earlier when a Russian coast guard ship collided with a Ukrainian tugboat, setting in motion a series of ever-escalating events today.
Breaking: “Due to extraordinary events, the president convened the military cabinet.” — official spokesman for Ukraine’s @poroshenko
Update: Two Ukrainian Navy ships and tugboat seized by “Russian special forces,” two servicemen wounded during exchange of gunfire, reports Ukrainian Navy press service. No other confirmation for now.
Ukrainian former MFA spox and now ambassador to Estonia:
The Russia version of events:
Our report on clashes between the Ukrainian and Russian navies in and around the Sea of Azov today, which is still developing: rferl.org/a/ukraine-russ… via @RFERL
Latest: Ukrainian Navy now reports six (6) of its servicemen wounded after apparent gunfight with Russian naval vessels.
European Union statement on events today in Sea of Azov: eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/h…
Ukrainian military official tells me President Poroshenko still in meeting with military cabinet that began an hour ago. More info TK following meeting.
More updates here: rferl.org/a/ukraine-russ…
Confirmation now via Russia's state-run media that it fired on Ukrainian vessels and seized them.
This is a huge blow to Ukraine's ailing navy. The loss of three vessels, including two armed ones, accounts for about a third of its entire armed fleet. Russia seized several Ukrainian naval vessels when it annexed Crimea in 2014.
Recordings purportedly from waters near Sea of Azov tonight in which Russians heard ordering Ukrainian servicemen aboard detained ships to put their hands up and surrender and Ukrainians saying they have wounded. news.liga.net/politics/video…
Wow. Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (@rnbo_gov_ua) says it will convene a meeting at midnight in Kyiv to consider the introduction of martial law following clashes at sea with Russia. rnbo.gov.ua/news/3165.html
At the Russian embassy in Kyiv, a small group of Ukrainian protesters have stacked tires and folded paper boats. Nothing burning for now.
Update: Ukrainian President Poroshenko and his military cabinet are still locked in security meeting, officials present tell me. Among subjects is possible introduction of martial law, which will be discussed in detail at midnight meeting with National Security & Defense Council.
Source from Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council tells me its more likely than not that martial law will be introduced. What's to be decided is whether it will be a regional or national declaration. But President Poroshenko still to approve.
Update from the Russian embassy in Kyiv: Those tires have been set alight.
Live: Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council discusses the possibility of imposing martial law after Russian vessel rams Ukrainian tugboat and seizes three of the country's ships:
At extraordinary security meeting, military leaders tell Ukraine's President Poroshenko that 23 Ukrainian sailors have been taken captive, six were wounded in gunfight with Russian naval vessels, including two seriously. Kyiv is not in contact with detained ships and sailors.
Breaking: Ukrainian President Poroshenko supports martial law and will send proposal to the Verkhovna Rada, the country's parliament, to be considered tomorrow.
Important context: This martial law request comes four months ahead of Ukraine's presidential elections and incumbent Poroshenko is trailing in polls. If martial law imposed, it would mean elections can be postponed.
So, Poroshenko's war council has wrapped. Tomorrow, Ukraine's parliament will consider a proposal sent from the council to impose martial law for 60 days. It's unclear whether it will be nationwide or regional. I understood it to be the former.
Speaker of Ukraine's parliament confirms tomorrow's extraordinary session to consider martial law proposal from President Poroshenko and his military council.
A comment from Ukraine's foreign minister:
What's extraordinary is that President Poroshenko moved so quickly to propose martial law today after a significant incident but not one comparable to many previously. Crimea annexation was worse; 100s of Ukrainians killed in mere days at height of war in various fights more so.
These are good points and I made them myself. What seems different in this case is Russia openly participated and admitted to firing on Ukrainian ships and seizing them. In previous incidents, Russia denied involvement (only admitting Crimea later).
"Int[ernational] inaction will bless violence," writes Ukraine's deputy prime minister, calling for the country's allies to help after Russia's aggressive moves at sea today.
Ukrainian Interior Minister @AvakovArsen has put the State Border Guard Service, National Guard, National Police and State Emergencies Service on high alert. mvs.gov.ua/ua/news/16843_…
Wanna know how we got to this point? Here's my dispatch from the Sea of Azov this summer: rferl.org/a/sea-of-troub…
