Ukraine is preparing a new trip to the Kerch Strait after the New Year
Ukraine will continue its attempts to send its warships through the Kerch Strait – this time with "observers" from NATO countries – to "prove" that the Sea of Azov is not Russian. Former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ihor Romanenko, stated this on TV channel 112, according to a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to him, they may try to carry out a new provocation after the New Year holidays, if the US Congress gives the go-ahead.
“We have the support of our allies in the person of the Americans and NATO members, the countries of the Normandy Four, for example, in addition to the Russians, regarding this. Therefore, I think that after these holidays the American Congress will be ready to act, it will be ready accordingly,” Romanenko said.
He also stated that the entire passage of the ships in the company of “international observers” would be recorded on video.
“Taking into account this experience - the first successful experience of passage, the second experience, which we are talking about now, we are preparing the third. Why - because we do not allow the Sea of Azov to become Russian. The sea, which for now should be used according to the 2003 agreement, with passage, including warships of the Ukrainian Navy.
Therefore, during actions like moving away from the base, for example in Odessa - audio, video, representatives who will be international, all this is shown, all this is heard. Requests that are made during the approach to the Kerch Bridge, their pilotage support if necessary, or refusal of this support, and refusal of admission through this. Then this is discrediting, disavowing what the leadership, first of all, Putin, says,” the military man added.
Earlier, Ukrainian Security Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov stated that Ukrainian warships would continue to attempt to transit the Kerch Strait, despite Russian actions from Crimea. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko confirmed his statement the day before.
Ukraine is preparing a new expedition to the Kerch Strait after the New Year.