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Agence France-Presse

Russia said on Monday it had handed back three Ukrainian naval ships seized off the Crimean coast a year ago, but Kiev did not immediately confirm the move.
“On November 18 the handover took place to the Ukrainian side of three Ukraine naval ships that illegally crossed the Russian border in November 2018,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
However, Ukrainian Navy spokesman Oleg Chalyk said: “We are not commenting at this stage.”
In November 2018, Russian forces boarded and took control of the ships as they headed through the Kerch Strait, a narrow waterway leading to the Sea of Azov that is used by Ukraine and Russia.


The seizure of the two gunboats and a tugboat was the most serious confrontation between the two countries since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2014.
Russia captured 24 Ukrainian sailors, who were returned to Ukraine as part of a prisoner swap in September.
Border officials had said on Sunday that the ships would be returned and local television showed footage of them being towed by the Russian coastguard through the Kerch Strait.
Russia and Ukraine swap prisoners, as relations start to thaw
The ships had been seized as “evidence,” Moscow said on Monday, but added that the handover was possible because investigators no longer needed them.
The Russian ministry maintained that Ukraine had committed a “crime” by ordering its sailors to carry out “provocative actions”.
It added that it would continue to “harshly crack down on any provocations on its borders.”


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Russia

Russia gives back three ships seized from Ukraine, foreign ministry says

Seized Ukrainian military vessels are seen in the port of Kerch, Crimea in November. Photo: AFP

Russia set to return Ukrainian ships seized a year ago amid simmering tensions

A seized Ukrainian ship is towed by a Russian Coast Guard vessel out of the port in Kerch. Photo: Reuters

Seized Ukrainian naval ships are guarded by Russia's Coast Guard vessels in the port in Kerch, near the bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula, Crimea November 17, 2019. REUTERS/Alla Dmitrieva

Russia sanctions should remain until peace restored, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in Sochi, Russia September 12, 2019. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

Russia and Ukraine swap prisoners, in first sign of thawing relations

A child runs to greet one of the Ukrainian prisoners freed under a prisoner swap deal with Russia, at Boryspil airport, outside Kiev, Ukraine. Photo: AP

Relatives of Ukrainian prisoners freed by Russia greet them upon their arrival at Boryspil airport, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Planes carrying prisoners freed by Russia and Ukraine have landed in the countries' capitals, in an exchange that could be a significant step toward improving relations between Moscow and Kyiv. The planes, each reportedly carrying 35 prisoners, landed almost simultaneously at Vnukovo airport in Moscow and at Kyiv's Boryspil airport. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

A police convoy escort two buses with tinted windows leaving the Vnukovo-2 goverment airport outside Moscow on September 7, 2019 as a long-awaited exchange of prisoners between Moscow and Kiev has begun today, a day after Russian President said for the first time the "large-scale" prisoner exchange with Ukraine was being finalised. - Planes carrying 70 Russian and Ukrainian prisoners involved in a landmark exchange landed on September 7, 2019 in Moscow and Kiev, with the Ukrainian leader personally greeting former inmates. (Photo by Vasily MAXIMOV / AFP)

Russia threatens ‘consequences’ after Ukraine seizes tanker amid high tensions over prisoner swap

Officers of the Ukrainian security services surround a crew member (left) of the Russian tanker. Photo: Handout via Reuters

A view shows the Russian tanker, now called Nika Spirit and formerly named Neyma, which was detained by the Ukrainian security service in the port of Izmail, Ukraine in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on July 25, 2019. State Border Guard Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

A view shows the Russian tanker, now called Nika Spirit and formerly named Neyma, which was detained by the Ukrainian security services in the port of Izmail, Ukraine in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on July 25, 2019. State Border Guard Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

Ukraine’s new president Volodymyr Zelensky invites Russia’s Vladimir Putin for talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference with EU leaders on Monday. Photo: EPA

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. Photo: AP

News

World

Russia & Central Asia


Russian forces boarded and took control of the ships as they headed through the Kerch Strait last November
Moscow maintained that Ukraine had committed a ‘crime’ by ordering its sailors to carry out ‘provocative actions’



Russian forces boarded and took control of the ships as they headed through the Kerch Strait last November because Ukraine had ordered its sailors to carry out ‘provocative actions’, Moscow said.


Ukraine

Diplomacy