Assessments

Guidance

Ukraine has been building up its sea, coastal and air forces since Russia seized three ships and 24 sailors in a Nov. 25, 2018, standoff over the Sea of Azov.

Kiev is building up its forces and warning that it could fight back in a new standoff, while Moscow is telling the West to stay out of the conflict.

Are Russia and Ukraine Heading Toward a Showdown in the Sea of Azov?

Kiev is building up its forces and warning that it could fight back in a new standoff over the Sea of Azov, while Moscow is telling the West to stay out of the conflict.

Highlights

Ukraine

Russia

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

On Jan. 1, the commander of Ukraine's navy, Adm. Ihor Voronchenko, issued a statement saying that his force had made deployments to the Sea of Azov and increased the combat capabilities of its maritime, air and coastal units in response to Russian aggression in the area. This came after Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned on Dec. 26, 2018, that the West should refrain from supporting any new "provocations" by Ukraine in the sea after a confrontation between Ukrainian and Russian naval ships in the last months of 2018.

GUIDANCE

Are Russia and Ukraine Heading Toward a Showdown in the Sea of Azov?

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