Freedom of Navigation Monitoring

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The Duration of Artificial Delays of Vessels in the Kerch Strait. The Monitoring for December 2021

05 January 2022
From December 2018 to December 2020, due to the threat of the "Azov package" of international sanctions against Russian ports on the Sea of Azov, there was a slight decrease in the average duration of artificial delays of ships at the exit from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea: in 2018 − 79.5 hours; in 2019 − up to 37.4 hours; in 2020 − 29.6 hours per vessel. In 2021, this figure has increased significantly to 39.8 hours per vessel and already exceeded those for 2019 and 2020.
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International Security Risks in the Azov-Black Sea Region in November-December 2021

20 December 2021
Russia is continuing to prepare for war. Increased obstruction of traffic in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov has been recorded. The possibility of military action on the Ukrainian coast of the Sea of Azov, in particular airborne assault and amphibious operations, cannot be ruled out. The risk of Russian aggression will increase during the winter holidays and the Winter Olympics in China. The almost continuous presence in the Black Sea of powerful NATO missile ships is an effective deterrent to the aggressor.
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Closure of the Azov-Black Sea Region in November-December 2021

16 December 2021
The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies and BlackSeaNews reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea and Azov Sea in November-December, 2021.
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The Duration of Artificial Delays of Vessels in the Kerch Strait. The Monitoring for November 2021

12 December 2021
From December 2018 to December 2020, due to the threat of the "Azov package" of international sanctions against Russian ports on the Sea of Azov, there was a slight decrease in the average duration of artificial delays of ships at the exit from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea: in 2018 − 79.5 hours; in 2019 − up to 37.4 hours; in 2020 − 29.6 hours per vessel. However, over the first 11 months of 2021, this figure has increased significantly to 39.4 hours per vessel and already exceeded those for 2019 and 2020...
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The Duration of Artificial Delays of Vessels in the Kerch Strait. The Monitoring for October 2021

16 November 2021
From December 2018 to December 2020, due to the threat of the "Azov package" of international sanctions against Russian ports on the Sea of Azov, there was a slight decrease in the average duration of arbitrary delays of ships before leaving the Sea of Azov for the Black Sea:  in 2018 − 79.5 hours; in 2019 − up to 37.4 hours; in 2020 − 29.6 hours per vessel.  However, for 9 months of 2021, this figure has increased significantly  to 39.7 hours per vessel.
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Closure of the Black Sea in October, 2021

08 November 2021
The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in October, 2021.
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The Duration of Artificial Delays of Vessels in the Kerch Strait. The Monitoring for September 2021

19 October 2021
In September 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 22,4 hours. In September 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 39,7 hours
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Closure of the Black Sea in September, 2021

13 October 2021
The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in September, 2021.
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The Duration of Artificial Delays of Vessels in the Kerch Strait. The Monitoring for July and August 2021

13 September 2021
In July 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 31,2 hours., in August 2021 – 15,3 hours. In July 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 28,0 hours, in February 2021 – 30,7 hours.
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Closure of the Black Sea in August, 2021

07 September 2021
The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in August, 2021.
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Security Risks in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in 2021

01 September 2021
What has become increasingly important since 2018 is not only the developments on the occupied peninsula itself but also how Russia has been using Crimea, which has turned from a global problem into a military threat. It should be emphasized that no one can reliably predict what scenarios Russia will enact using the military capabilities created on the occupied peninsula. It is only possible to assert that the Russian Federation has not stopped and will not stop. We can also be certain that both blackmail by war and the actual "hot" war in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov against the coastal regions of Ukraine, as well as Georgia and Moldova, based on Crimea's military power, are completely realistic scenarios, which diplomats and the military should have on the table.
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Threats to the National Maritime Security of Ukraine, Arising From Some Agreements and Formats of Cooperation With the Participation of the Russian Federation

26 August 2021
The article provides a selective legal analysis of some international agreements and existing formats of cooperation that have been used, are being used or may be used in the future by the Russian Federation (RF) in order to harm the national interest of Ukraine at sea.
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Closure of the Black Sea in July, 2021

05 August 2021
The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in July, 2021.
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The Duration of Artificial Delays of Vessels in the Kerch Strait. The Monitoring for June 2021

12 July 2021
In June 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 13.5 hours, 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 21.7 hours.
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Closure of the Black Sea in June, 2021

05 July 2021
The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in June, 2021.