Poltorak explained why Ukrainian sailors were not firing in response to a Russian attack

The exhibition of Ukrainian sailors captured by the forces of the Federation of Russia in the waters of the Kerch Strait saved Ukraine from a large-scale military aggression in Russia.

] That's what the Minister of Defense said from Ukraine, Stepan Poltorak, to the TV channel Direct TV

. "If they were on fire dkryly, I think it is unlikely that we would present this transfer took place and he would be all different. As the Russian Federation was waiting and preparing for this provocation, "said Poltorak.

The defense minister said that only the rescue of sailors saved Ukraine from the widespread aggression of Russia

See also force against Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait – NATO

"Due to the interceptions we see in the negotiations that took place between the ships FSB from Russia and the Black Sea Fleet and our sailors, where they insulted, where they let themselves go. drove where they finally applied with I fear that only the effort saved the situation of a large-scale aggression, "said Poltorak." UNIAN Reference On the morning of November 25, Russia blocked the passage of the Ukrainian tug "Yana Kapu" and two boats "Berdyansk" in the Kerch Strait. "Nikopol", who carried out a scheduled transfer from the port of Odessa to the port of Mariupol. After leaving the Kerch Strait, Russian ships opened fire on Ukrainian ships that had already returned to Odessa without any information on the possibility of crossing the Strait.

Oku 24 captured against Ukrainian soldiers. Three of them were injured. Ukrainians were accused of illegally crossing the border of the Russian Federation (part 3 of Article 322 of the Russian Criminal Code, up to six years' imprisonment). All the prisoners were arrested by the so-called Crimean "court", after which they were taken to the Moscow investigators "Lefortovo" and "The sailor's silence".