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Russian court may extend arrest of Ukrainian sailors until April 26

The court will consider the request on January 15

MOSCOW, January 11. /TASS/. On January 15, Moscow’s Lefortovo District Court will consider the Federal Security Service’s request to extend the arrest of the Ukrainian sailors detained in the Kerch Strait until April 26, a court source told TASS.

"On January 15, Moscow’s Lefortovo District Court will consider the investigation’s request to extend the sailors’ arrest until April 26," the source said.

Kerch Strait incident

On November 25, three Ukrainian navy ships 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.

A criminal investigation was opened into the border incident. The ships’ crew members - 24 Ukrainian nationals - have been arrested until January 25, 2019. They are charged with violating the Russian border under Article 322.3 of the Russian Criminal Code. If found guilty, they may face up to six years in prison.