Ukraine claims Russia is blockading its Azov sea ports

(2 Dec 2018) Ukrainian authorities claim Russia is blockading its ports in the Sea of Azov. The country's minister of infrastructure said on Sunday that no Ukrainian ships heading to or from the ports in Mariupol and Berdyansk have been allowed in over the last seven days. "All vessels which were entering Azov Sea in direction of seaport (of) Mariupol and Berdyansk were stopped by Russians," said Volodymyr Omelyant. Dockers at Berdyansk port also said that ships were much less frequent at the Azov Sea ports. "(The ships) rarely come. You can see that there are no vessels," said docker Vitaliy Sinhur. The seizure of three Ukrainian naval vessels and their crews last week stunned local workers, both civil and military.   "I’m worried (for sailors detained in the Kerch Strait) because we overcame together many things," said the captain of the Kremenchug smaller armoured gunboat, the same as that detained in the Kerch Strait. The three ships were trying to pass through from the Black Sea into the Sea of Azov through the narrow Kerch Strait between Russia’s mainland and Crimea. The Russian coast guard refused to let them pass and after many tense hours of maneuvering fired on the Ukrainian boats and seized them along with their 24 crewmen. Ukraine has imposed entry restrictions on Russian men amid the spiraling conflict and called western countries to boost their presence in the Black Sea to deter Russia from further aggressive actions. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...