UN Tribunal Orders Russia to Release Ukrainian Sailors, Ships
- Law of Sea panel rules for Ukraine in Kerch Strait Case
- Russia refused to participate in hearing on ‘military’ dispute
Seized Ukrainian military vessels are seen in a port of Kerch, Crimea, 2018.
Photographer: STR/AFP via Getty Images
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Ukraine won a legal victory Saturday against Russia over last year’s naval clash off the coast of Crimea, as a United Nations tribunal ordered Moscow to immediately release the ships and sailors it captured.
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ordered Russia to hand over the three ships and two dozen sailors jailed since the incident Nov. 25 and allow them to return to Ukraine. Russia refused to participate in the proceedings, arguing the panel doesn’t have jurisdiction in cases involving military activities.