3 claims checked against the record · PDF in six languages
Kerch Strait, November 2018
'They entered our territorial waters'3 claims checked against the record · PDF in six languages
Vladimir Putin, on the seizure of three Ukrainian naval vessels at the Kerch Strait · 28 Nov 2018. On 28 November 2018, at VTB Capital's 'Russia Calling!' forum in Moscow, Vladimir Putin said the Ukrainian vessels seized three days earlier had 'entered our territorial waters' and called the incident 'without doubt a provocation'. A 2003 agreement signed by Russia gives Ukrainian warships freedom of navigation in the Kerch Strait; an international tribunal ordered the vessels and their 24 servicemen released. Three claims, the record, and what they concede.
The recordNot Russian waters. Under the 2003 agreement, warships of both Ukraine and Russia enjoy freedom of navigation in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. The waters off Crimea are 'ours' only if Russia's occupation of Crimea is accepted; the General Assembly calls Crimea temporarily occupied.
Fair to say'Provocation' — with no evidence. The vessels were held for about eight hours and fired on after they turned back. The General Assembly called it 'the unjustified use of force by the Russian Federation'.
Claim 1 · Vladimir Putin · 'Russia Calling!' forum · 28 Nov 2018“[They] entered our territorial waters.”Interfax (English), 28 Nov 2018 · source ↗
FalseUnder the 2003 agreement, warships of Ukraine and Russia 'enjoy freedom of navigation in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait' (art. 2(1)). The General Assembly calls Crimea 'temporarily occupied' (GA/12108, 17 Dec 2018). ITLOS ordered the vessels and the 24 servicemen released immediately, 19–1 (25 May 2019). VOA rated the claim false (28 Nov 2018). Concedes: The waters are 'ours' only by counting occupied Crimea as Russia — which the General Assembly refuses.Evidence tiers: A
Claim 2 · Vladimir Putin · 28 Nov 2018“[The vessels] entered waters that were Russia's before Crimea joined. (Interfax's paraphrase of Putin)”Interfax (English), 28 Nov 2018 — report headline paraphrasing Putin; no verbatim transcript read · source ↗
Contradicted by Russia's own treatyThe 2003 agreement signed by Russia states that the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait 'have historically been inland waters of the Russian Federation and Ukraine', and that issues of the Kerch Strait are settled 'by agreement between the Parties' (art. 1). Concedes: Russia signed in 2003 that the strait was shared, not Russian before 2014.Evidence tiers:
Claim 3 · Vladimir Putin · 28 Nov 2018“It was without doubt a provocation.”Reuters, via The Moscow Times, 28 Nov 2018 · source ↗
No evidence presentedThe vessels were blocked and held for about eight hours; when they turned away they were chased and fired on, warning shots then targeted shots (ITLOS order, paras 71, 73). The General Assembly expressed extreme concern at 'the unjustified use of force by the Russian Federation against Ukraine' (A/RES/74/17, para 8). Concedes: Nothing about why vessels sailing away were chased and fired on.Evidence tiers: A
What we askRussia: comply in full with the ITLOS order of 25 May 2019 and with every ruling of the arbitral tribunal, and return all seized equipment and weapons · all states: uphold freedom of navigation through the Kerch Strait and in the Sea of Azov · cite the ITLOS order and resolutions 73/194 and 74/17 in Third Committee and Black Sea statements.
SourcesInterfax, 28 Nov 2018 · Reuters via The Moscow Times, 28 Nov 2018 · ITLOS Order, 25 May 2019 · PCA, award on preliminary objections, 27 Jun 2022 · A/RES/73/194 (GA/12108) · A/RES/74/17 · 2003 Azov–Kerch agreement (unofficial translation) · VOA, 28 Nov 2018
Kerch Strait, November 2018 · 'They entered our territorial waters'
Vladimir Putin, on the seizure of three Ukrainian naval vessels at the Kerch Strait · 28 Nov 2018. On 28 November 2018, at VTB Capital's 'Russia Calling!' forum in Moscow, Vladimir Putin said the Ukrainian vessels seized three days earlier had 'entered our territorial waters' and called the incident 'without doubt a provocation'. A 2003 agreement signed by Russia gives Ukrainian warships freedom of navigation in the Kerch Strait; an international tribunal ordered the vessels and their 24 servicemen released. Three claims, the record, and what they concede.
Kerch Strait, November 2018 · 6-page dossier (PDF)p.1 one-page summary · p.2 the occasion, the speakers, what others said and what was left out · p.3–3 the three claims against the record · p.4 the record side by side · p.5 the law, lines to take and Q&A · p.6 sources and method · v1 · 5 Nov 2026
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