The obstruction of maritime traffic in the Sea of Azov. The results of the monitoring of the intentional delays of vessels in the Kerch Strait for 2020

Andrii Klymenko
Tetyana Guchakova
Olha Korbut

The Monitoring Group of BlackSeaNews and the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies

The Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies and BlackSeaNews wishes to bring to your attention the latest in a series of our analytical studies on Russia's economic war against Ukraine in the Sea of Azov – the results of the monitoring of the intentional delays of vessels in the Kerch Strait for 2020.

1. In 2020, the average duration of the intentional delays by the RF of vessels en route to the Ukrainian ports on the Sea of ​​Azov – Mariupol and Berdiansk – was 23.5 hours (the yearly average for 2019 was 29.9 hours). This decrease is explained by a significant reduction in the delay time in April, May, and June 2020 – see Figure 1.

It should be reminded that the main factor that reduced the duration of the intentional delays of vessels before obtaining the permission to pass through the Kerch Strait in April - June 2020 was the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in the ships’ countries of origin (largely Italy, where high mortality rates were recorded) as well as in Krasnodar Krai of the RF and occupied Crimea, where ships and boats of the Coast Guard of the Border Service of the FSB of the RF are based.

During that period, a significant number of vessels going to/from the Ukrainian ports on the Sea of ​​Azov – Mariupol and Berdiansk – either were not stopped for a traditional inspection at all or passed the Kerch Strait with a delay of up to 7 hours, as before the blockade. This resulted from the FSB Coast Guard Command’s fear of a wide spread of the coronavirus epidemic among the military, which could have led to a complete loss of combat readiness.

Later, when the means of protection were developed and the picture of risks related to coming into contact with infected people became clearer, the duration of the intentional delays of vessels in the Kerch Strait returned to the values usual for the blockade period.

2. In 2020, the average duration of the intentional delays by the RF of vessels going from Mariupol and Berdiansk at the exit from the Sea of Azov was 29.6 hours (the yearly average for 2019 was 37.4 hours). This decrease is also explained by a considerable reduction in the wait time in April, May, and June 2020 – see Figure 2.

The reduction in the duration of the intentional delays of vessels before obtaining the permission to pass through the Kerch Strait in April - June 2020 was also caused by the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in the ships’ countries of origin as well as in Krasnodar Krai of the RF and occupied Crimea, where ships and boats of the Coast Guard of the Border Service of the FSB of the RF are based.

Later, when the COVID-19 pandemic became commonplace, the duration of the intentional delays of vessels in the Kerch Strait returned to the values usual for the blockade period.

3. From 22 October 2018 to the end of 2020, there were no open sea detentions of vessels in the Sea of Azov on the move from/to Berdiansk and Mariupol due to the fact that the Ukrainian Navy’s boats escorted the vessels.

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For reference: the areas where freedom of navigation was violated are marked on the map – see Figure 4.

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This publication has been produced with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of EED. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in this publication lies entirely with the authors.