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Disinfo: Ukrainian ships seized in the Kerch Strait were gifted by the USA

Summary

Two Ukrainian ships seized by Russia in the Kerch Strait were gifted to Ukraine by the US.

Disproof

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.

The construction of the Kerch Bridge took place without Ukraine's consent and constitutes a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It has led, in parallel with the militarisation of the Azov Sea, to tougher controls on naval traffic in the strait. The European Union stated that it expects  Russia to stop the inspections.

For further reporting see the Bellingcat,  DFRLab and Polygraph.

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publication/media

Rossia 24 - YouTube (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 128
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 01/12/2018
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Ukraine, US
  • Keywords: Azov sea, Kerch

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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Disproof

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Disproof

No evidence given.

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