KIEV 25 Nov (ANA) - Ukraine has accused Russia of ramming one of its boats off the coast of the annexed Crimea, amid rising tensions.

 

The "openly aggressive actions" occurred as three of its vessels sailed from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov, Kiev said.

 

Ukraine's Yana Kapu tug suffered damage to its engine, guard rail and outer shell, the Ukrainian navy said.

 

But Russia said the ships were in its waters, and accused the Ukrainians of "provocative actions".

 

Russia has now blocked access to the Sea of Azov with a tanker under the bridge that spans the Kerch Strait.

 

Tensions have risen in the seas off the Crimean peninsula - annexed by Russia in 2014 - in recent months.

 

The Ukrainian navy said in a statement that its boats - two gunboats - were now being monitored by two Russian helicopters scrambled by Moscow.

 

The navy said the boats were waiting to cross into the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait, which Russia had shut off.

 

Russia said the traffic was suspended for security reasons.

 

Meanwhile, a Russian FSB security service official was quoted by Ria Novosti news agency as saying that Ukraine had sent naval reinforcements to the area.

 

The Sea of Azov lies east of the Crimean peninsula, and south of Ukraine's regions partially seized by pro-Russian separatists.

 

In 2003, Ukraine and Russia signed a treaty on the Sea of Azov, which defined it as internal waters of the two countries. The treaty guaranteed free navigation to all Ukrainian and Russian vessels.(ANA)

FA/ANA/25 November 2018------