Ukrainian navy

This has been stated by the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Igor Voronchenko.

"In line with the Montreal Convention and its paragraph 19, we will seek the closure of the Bosphorus in Turkey in order to force the Russians to understand what constitutes a violation of international law," Voronchenko said, according to TASS.

NATO is monitoring the situation.

The tension between Russia and Ukraine comes over the situation in the Sea of Azov. Russian Coast Guard boats (on Sunday) seized three Ukrainian military vessels in the Black Sea near Crime, as they were trying to cross the Kerch Straits.

The Russian side used weapons to force the ships to stop.

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley says an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council has been called over the escalating situation between Russia and Ukraine, reported the Time. 

Haley tweeted that a meeting has been called for 11 a.m. Monday.

Two NATO military ships arrived at the port of Odessa. This was reported on Facebook from the press center of the Ukrainian Navy. The two ships are the British 'Duncan' and the Turkish frigate 'Yildirim' , explained the press center. Reported Mediapool

The United States is co-hosting drills in the Black Sea with what is left of Ukraine's devastated navy, which lost about two thirds of its sailors and ships after Russia seized Crimea last year.
 

Southeast Europe, Turkey criticise Russian moves in Ukraine

The annexation of Crimea has many worried about Russian ambition in Eastern Europe.

A woman walks past Russian soldiers patrolling outside the navy headquarters in Simferopol on Tuesday (March 18th). [AFP]

Crimean forces occupy naval base in Sevastopol

SEVASTOPOL -- Crimean units for self-defense have occupied a Ukrainian naval base in Sevastopol on the Black Sea, reported the AP.

A special UN envoy cut short his mission in Crimea after being harassed by armed men and ordered to leave the region, Wednesday.

Robert Serry said the car he was traveling in was blocked by unidentified armed men in camouflage uniforms after he visited the headquarters of the Ukrainian navy in Simferopol.