Freedom of Navigation Monitoring

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in August, 2021.

What has become increasingly important since 2018 is not only the developments on the occupied peninsula itself but also how Russia has been using Crimea, which has turned from a global problem into a military threat. It should be emphasized that no one can reliably predict what scenarios Russia will enact using the military capabilities created on the occupied peninsula. It is only possible to assert that the Russian Federation has not stopped and will not stop. We can also be certain that both blackmail by war and the actual "hot" war in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov against the coastal regions of Ukraine, as well as Georgia and Moldova, based on Crimea's military power, are completely realistic scenarios, which diplomats and the military should have on the table.

The article provides a selective legal analysis of some international agreements and existing formats of cooperation that have been used, are being used or may be used in the future by the Russian Federation (RF) in order to harm the national interest of Ukraine at sea.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in July, 2021.

In June 2021, the average duration of artificial delays of vessels going from the Black Sea to the Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol and Berdiansk, by the RF was 13.5 hours, vessels carrying exports from Mariupol and Berdiansk were delayed at the exit from the Sea of Azov by the Russian Federation for an average of 21.7 hours.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in June, 2021.

In May 2021, the average duration of artificial delays of vessels going from the Black Sea to the Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol and Berdiansk, by the RF was 15.4 hours, vessels carrying exports from Mariupol and Berdiansk were delayed at the exit from the Sea of Azov by the Russian Federation for an average of 28.3 hours.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in May, 2021.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in April, 2021.

In April 2021, the average duration of artificial delays of vessels going from the Black Sea to the Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol and Berdiansk, by the RF was 20.9 hours, in March 2021 - 14,3 hours, in February 2021 – 21,2 hours, in January - 54 hours. In April 2021, vessels carrying exports from Mariupol and Berdiansk were delayed at the exit from the Sea of Azov by the Russian Federation for an average of 70 hours, in March 2021 - 41,8 hours, in February 2021 – 54,1 hours, in January - 44,5 hours.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in March, 2021.

In January 2021, the average duration of artificial delays of vessels going from the Black Sea to the Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol and Berdiansk, by the RF was 54 hours, in February 2021 – 21,2 hours, in March 2021 - 14,3 hours. In January 2021, vessels carrying exports from Mariupol and Berdiansk were delayed at the exit from the Sea of Azov by the Russian Federation for an average of 44,5 hours, in February 2021 – 54,1 hours, in March 2021 - 41,8 hours.

In January 2021, the average duration of artificial delays of vessels going from the Black Sea to the Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol and Berdiansk, by the RF was 54 hours., in February 2021 – 21,2 hours. In January 2021, vessels carrying exports from Mariupol and Berdiansk were delayed at the exit from the Sea of Azov by the Russian Federation for an average of 44,5 hours, in February 2021 – 54,1 hours.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in February, 2021.

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). 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 explained by a significant reduction in the delay time in April, May, and June 2020.