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The Duration of Artificial Delays of Vessels in the Kerch Strait. The Monitoring for May 2020

Andrii KLYMENKO
Tetyana GUCHAKOVA
Olha KORBUT

The Monitoring Group of BlackSeaNews and the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies

The Monitoring group of the Institute for Black Sea Strategic Studies, the Maidan of Foreign Affairs and BlackSeaNews are glad to share with you the latest in a series of our monthly studies on Russia's economic war against Ukraine at the Sea of Azov.

In May 2021, the average duration of artificial delays of vessels going from the Black Sea to the Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol and Berdiansk, by the RF was 15.4 hours. The yearly average for 2020 was 23.5 hours, in April 2021 – 20.9 hours. See Chart.



In May 2021, vessels carrying exports from Mariupol and Berdiansk were delayed at the exit from the Sea of Azov by the Russian Federation for an average of 28.3 hours. The yearly average for 2020 was 29.6 hours, in April 2021 – 70 hours. See Chart.

From 22 October 2018 to May 2021, there were no open sea detentions of vessels in the Sea of Azov on the move from/to Berdiansk and Mariupol due to the fact that the Ukrainian Navy’s boats were escorting the vessels.

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For reference: the areas where freedom of navigation was violated are marked on the map – see Figure.

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This article has been published with the support of ZMINA Human Rights Centre.
The content of the article is the sole responsibility of the authors.