Russia strongly denies all accusations of aggressive and unlawful acts in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday, TASS reports.
"Russia regrets that the confrontational course of Kiev aimed at destabilizing Russian-Ukrainian relations finds support among several states, including EU member countries. Russia strongly denies any accusations directed against it concerning aggressive and unlawful acts in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait," the Russian foreign ministry noted.
Inspections of vessels by the Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service in that zone "are legitimate," the ministry said. "Activities of the Russian border guards are not discriminatory. A total of 48% of the ships (720 of 1,492) inspected in April-October 2018, were sailing to Russian ports or from them," it stressed. "Contrary to Ukraine’s statements, Russian-flagged ships are also inspected," the ministry said.
