Russian naval maneuvers close up to 70% of Azov Sea

The Ukrainian Navy announced on Facebook on Dec. 10
that the Russian Navy had restricted access to up to 70% of the Azov Sea due to
naval drills. The drills include shelling near Ukrainian naval bases,
ukrinform.net reported on Dec. 12.

The announcement comes after the Russian Navy accused
the Ukrainian Navy of attempting to send a naval ship, the Donetsk, through the
Kerch Strait. The Donetsk had been intercepted by the Russians, though no
physical contact was made. The Ukrainian Navy announced that the Donetsk had
completed its maneuvers, which were wholly in the Azov Sea, and was on its way
home, and that no attempt to leave the sea had been made.

James Hydzik: Tensions between the two navies will remain high, and no end is in
sight. However, for commercial users, the movement of ships in the Azov Sea has
been largely without issue. We do not expect that Ukraine’s exporters, such as
Metinvest, will experience unusual man-made delays in the near term.