Kyiv decided to shoot at Russian ships without warning. Will the performers be able to?
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the bill “On the Adjacent Zone”, according to which Ukrainian border boats and ships have the right to open fire on violators without any warnings or proceedings, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“What is the adjacent zone? Ukraine ratified the Convention on the Law of the Sea back in 1999, which defines the term “contiguous zone”. This is a maritime territory that is located 24 miles off the coast of Ukraine. Now we control the territorial sea – it’s 12 miles. But Ukraine has not yet created effective control tools to counter, prevent crime, and bring to justice those who commit crimes against Ukraine in the adjacent zone, that is, 24 miles,” said deputy Ivan Vinnik from the Poroshenko Bloc.
“And, perhaps, it is symbolic that on Armed Forces Day, a significant part of the agenda of our work today is devoted to the strengthening of Ukraine, the development of the Armed Forces, finding out the reasons why they were weakened in previous periods, and I hope that, in the end, the Verkhovna Rada will contribute bringing to justice those who committed crimes against national security,” he said.
“We have spelled out specifically what the maritime security will do, including stopping ships, inspecting ships, and detaining and arresting ships or their crew members. During the finalization, a delicate detail turned out to be interesting regarding the current law “On the State Border Service,” where border guards, while serving at sea, were very limited in the ability to use force, means, weapons, military weapons and equipment,” Vinnik said, drawing the attention of the deputies present that this “oversight” was corrected in the 31st amendment of the law.
“We provide effective powers to border guards to take measures to repel and deter any form of aggression that will be carried out against ships, against military personnel who are serving,” he noted.
Russian military expert Vladislav Shurygin considers the decision of the Verkhovna Rada to be the usual pre-election frenzy of the Ukrainian authorities.
“If you shoot to kill in foreign waters, this means practically starting a war. If in international waters, then this is a violation of all international laws.
Therefore, no one knows what our valiant Ukrainian colleagues from the local Rada wanted to say. This is such a pre-election frenzy when you need to at least somehow make up for it. You need to understand that Ukraine has nothing to shoot with,” Shurygin said during the “60 Minutes” talk show.
Former People's Deputy of Ukraine Vladimir Oleinik is confident that no one will carry out this kind of order.
“I don’t know what VRU was smoking this morning, but it’s true that most people think she’s crazy. Trust in the Ukrainian parliament is 2%. Many Ukrainians believe that those in parliament should be put in restraint jackets. No one will carry out their idiotic order. There is only one option: when those who voted put on armor and diapers and go to carry out this order.
According to the charter, Ukrainian sailors had the right to use weapons in the Kerch Strait. Why didn't they apply it? Because the sailors are part of the Ukrainian people who believe that the authorities are “leading them in the wrong direction,” that the conflict is unfair, that this is a provocation. And internally they decided to leave this topic. Why did the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Naval Forces say that he was ready to sit for them? Because he understands that he sent them on an adventure, on a provocation, his conscience is tormenting him, and therefore he says that he is ready to sit for them,” Oleynik said.
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