Russia has ‘partially unblocked’ sea ports

Shipping traffic has resumed to and from Ukraine’s ports on the Sea of Azov following a standoff with Russia.

Commercial ships were moving through the Kerch Strait linking the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea, infrastructure minister Volodymyr Omelyan said. Mr Omelyan, who accused Russia last week of blocking Ukrainian cargo trying to pass through the strait, said the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol had been “partially unblocked” thanks to a “stern international response”.

Russia, however, insisted it never blocked vessels from sailing through the Kerch Strait and that any possible disruptions were linked to bad weather.

The tug-of-war between the two neighbours has escalated further following a 25 November incident in which the Russian coast guard fired upon and seized three Ukrainian naval vessels and 24 seamen on board.

The US and its allies have condemned what they described as unjustified use of force by Russia.