There were two transgressions, the latest being 16:00 GMT on 25 November at which time the Russian Federation seized the vessels plus an accompanying tug boat.
The Berdyansk (Hull 01024) Ukrainian Navy artillery gunship, the BK-03 Nikopol (Hull 01028) artillery gunship and the Yany Kapu tug boat are claimed to have been illegally in commercial shipping waters. From the photographs it is apparent that the vessels were where the Russian statements claim them to be.
Did America put the Ukraine up to this Provocation?
The Russian side says that it can prove deliberate provocation.
This naval incident already smacks of American interference inasmuch as the conduct of the United States has been setting up controversies and friction in exactly the same way elsewhere in the world.
At the recent Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte warned the United States to stop inflaming matters because the Philippines was being put in danger in the event of war.
"China is already in possession of the South China Sea", said Pres. Duterte. "It's now in their hands," the President said. "So why do you have to create frictions… China is there. That's a reality, and America and everybody should realise that they are there."
