The Duration of Artificial Delays of Vessels in the Kerch Strait. The Monitoring for October 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 October 2020, 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 15,3 hours. The yearly average for 2019 was 29.9 hours, in April 2020 – 16.6 hours, in May – 10.1 hours, in June – 11.6 hours, in July – 21.4 hours, in August – 21.2 hours, in September – 17.4 hours. See Chart.



In October 2020, 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 19.1 hours. The yearly average for 2019 was 37.4 hours, in April 2020 – 19.9 hours, in May – 14.5 hours, in June – 14.8 hours, in July – 35.3 hours, in August – 27.8 hours, in September – 30.5 hours. See Chart.

From 22 October 2018 to November 2020, 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 4.

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EEDThis publication has been produced with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of EED. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in this publication lies entirely with the authors.