Ukraine initiates OSCE meeting due to Russian aggression in Azov Sea

Ukraine has initiated a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council due to Russian aggression against Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna has told an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Russia has used weapons against Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait. Russian aggression continues. Ukraine has initiated a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council," the mission said.

The date and time of the meeting currently remain unknown. The decision in this regard should be taken by the Italian OSCE Chairmanship.

Earlier it was reported that Russian troops had blocked, opened fire at and seized three ships of the Ukrainian Navy in the Kerch Strait. The Berdiansk and Nikopol small armored artillery boats were struck by the enemy's fire and lost their course. The Yany Kapu tugboat was forced to stop too.

According to the Ukrainian Navy, Russian military are towing two Ukrainian Navy ships, which they seized earlier on Sunday. The Nikopol small armored artillery boat has been blocked and is being escorted by invaders. Six Ukrainian servicemen were wounded.

President Petro Poroshenko convened a War Cabinet due to extraordinary events in the Azov Sea.

Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko appealed to the PRC with the requirement to immediately convene a meeting of the UN Security Council due to Russian aggression in the Azov Sea.