Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs has strongly condemned and declared null and void an order by the Russian government dated August 22, which adds the seaports of Berdiansk and Mariupol to the list of ports of the Russian Federation open to foreign vessels.
The ministry said that such actions constitute yet another attempt by the Kremlin to legitimize the occupation of Ukrainian territories and consolidate its illegal control over them.
Ukraine called on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to remind member states to comply with the IMO assembly resolution A.1183(33) of 4 December 2023, “Impact of the Russian Armed Invasion of Ukraine on International Shipping.”
In accordance with the resolution, “member states inform flag carrying vessels, shipowners, operators, and insurance brokers on the necessity to refrain from violating the regime of closed seaports in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.”
The ministry also called on the IMO to recommend that member states, within their national jurisdiction and international obligations, take appropriate measures against vessels that breach this regime.
“This decision constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, which enshrines the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states; the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which establishes Ukraine’s exclusive competence in regulating navigation within its territorial waters; and resolutions of the UN General Assembly that reaffirm Ukraine’s sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders and condemn Russia’s ongoing aggression,” the ministry noted.
Ukraine calls on its partners to impose additional restrictive measures against all Russian natural persons and legal entities, as well as foreign companies involved in commercial activities in the seaports of Berdiansk and Mariupol, and against vessels entering ports located in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
“Russia’s gross violation of international law concerning closed ports in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine requires an adequate response by the international community, including the introduction of restrictive measures against Russian ports, in particular those used to support Russia’s war machine,” the ministry added.
