Ukrainian ships seized in the Kerch Strait were gifted by the USA
Two Ukrainian ships seized by Russia in the Kerch Strait were gifted to Ukraine by the US.
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation on Ukraine and Azov Sea.
The seized boats have been identified as Gyurza-M-class artillery boats, which are manufactured by the Kyiv-based Kuznya na Rybalskomu ship building and armament firm.
The US has provided Ukraine with two Island-class patrol boats, as a form of military aid.
Further debunking by Polygraph.
For background:
On November 25 border patrol boats belonging to Russia’s FSB security service seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and their crews after shooting at them, wounding several Ukrainian servicemen. Russia argued that they were in Russian waters.
However a bilateral treaty between Russia and Ukraine, signed in 2003 and ratified by Russia in 2004, governs the use of the Kerch strait and the Sea of Azov, which in the treaty is considered to be the “internal waters” of both Russia and Ukraine.
For further reporting see the Bellingcat, DFRLab and Polygraph.