Ukraine to Close Ports in Crimea for International Shipping

The confrontation between Ukraine and Russia is moving from Eastern Ukraine, where the rebels are on the back foot, to the Black Sea. 

The Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure released a note on Monday morning, saying that the country is about to close the ports located on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Evpatoria, Kerch, Sevastopol, Feodosia, Yalta and Sevastopol) for international shipping.

‘The corresponding decree of 16 June, 2014 № 255 "On closing of the seaports," registered in the Ministry of Justice on 24 June, 2014, № 690/25467, will come into force after its official publication,’ Kiev said. 

At the same time, Moscow did not remain idle. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Commission for Military Technology Cooperation with Foreign States, remarking the country’s naval goods production.

“Over the last five years, Russia has become a leader in the export of ships and now holds 27 percent of the global market. Russian submarines, frigates, missile boats, minesweepers and other craft have found demand abroad and we see that they can compete successfully on the global market in terms of quality and price,” Putin said on Monday at noon. 

Also on Monday, Sakhalin Energy singed contracts with Sovcomflot to extend cooperation in the Sakhalin-2 offshore energy platforms. 

‘The contracts are a continuation of the memorandum of understanding and the contract for supply of the multi-task ice-class supply vessel for Sakhalin-2 offshore platforms signed between Sovcomflot and Sakhalin Energy on the 18th of April, on the date of the Sakhalin Energy’s birthday,’ the company wrote on its website.