MOSCOW, November 27. /TASS/. Russia’s State Duma (lower house of parliament) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has expressed gratitude to the border guards of Russia’s Federal Security Service and the Black Sea Fleet for their concerted action and courageous steps during the incident with Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait.
"It is necessary to say the words of gratitude to our border guards, they acted hand in glove, decisively and courageously, and prevented the intrusion into Russia’s territorial waters, and they did everything to defend the law, and acted in compliance with international rules," Volodin said.
"We once again faced a situation when a neighboring state, which violated all the rules, tried to draw Russia into this conflict, and thanks to the steps of the border guards this conflict was solved," Volodin noted, voicing hope that the malefactors will be seriously punished in line with Russian and international laws.
On November 25, three Ukrainian warships violated the rules of passage through Russia’s territorial sea when heading from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. Despite the repeated warnings and demands to stop, the Ukrainian vessels continued their way, forcing Russia to use weapons. All three Ukrainian ships were detained and taken to Kerch. Three Ukrainian servicemen were slightly wounded and received medical assistance, and their lives are not under threat. A criminal case has been launched over the violation of Russia’s state border. Moscow slammed the incident as a provocation. The EU and NATO called for de-escalation, while Ukraine’s authorities imposed martial law.