MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. The Moscow City Court has upheld a decision to extend the arrest of another four out of the 24 Ukrainian sailors charged with illegally crossing the Russian border in the Kerch Strait, a TASS correspondent reported.

"The court hereby upholds the decision made by a court of first instance to extend the arrest of Bogdan Nebylitsyin, Yuri Bezyazychny, Yuri Budyzlo and Sergei Chulib, and rejects the defense’s appeal," the court said.

The appeal was considered behind closed doors.

The Moscow City Court earlier upheld a decision to extend the arrest of eight sailors: Bogdan Golovash, Sergei Popov, Vladimir Tereshchenko, Andrei Shevchenko, Roman Mokryak, Yevgeny Semidotsky, Andrei Oprysko and Sergei Tsybizov.

The sailors’ arrest was extended until April 24.

Kerch Strait incident

On November 25, 2018, 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 Ukrainian 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.