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KERCH STRAIT PROVOCATION

OSCE calls for resolving Kerch Strait situation diplomatically

‘It is time to address differences through political and diplomatic means", the organization said in a statement

MOSCOW, November 26. /TASS/. Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Representative Martin Sajdik and Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Ertugrul Apakan are greatly concerned about the Kerch Strait incident and call for resolving the situation through political and diplomatic means, says a statement published on the OSCE website on Monday.

"The OSCE Chairperson’s Special Representative to the Trilateral Contact Group, Martin Sajdik, and the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), Ertugrul Apakan, said today that they followed recent incidents at sea, near the Kerch Strait with great concern. Speaking following recent developments that have raised tensions between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, Sajdik and Apakan called for restraint and for the parties to refrain from aggravating the situation. ‘It is time to address differences through political and diplomatic means,’ they said," the statement reads.

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Ripple effects: How the Kerch Strait provocation went down

Kerch Strait incident

According to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), on the morning of November 25, three ships from the Ukrainian Navy - the Berdyansk, the Nikopol and the Yany Kapu - illegally crossed Russia’s border and tried to carry out some illegal actions in Russian territorial waters later in the day. They ignored legitimate demands to stop issued by vessels belonging to the FSB Border Service and the Black Sea Fleet and continued maneuvering dangerously. In order to stop the Ukrainian ships, weapons had to be used. The three vessels were detained in Russian territorial waters. Three Ukrainian military servicemen suffered light wounds and were provided with medical assistance.

Moscow slammed the incident as a provocation, while the Kiev authorities came up with an initiative to declare martial law. The European Union and NATO called for a de-escalation.

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Ukraine KERCH STRAIT PROVOCATION

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