They overdid it: Kiev unwittingly confirmed that NATO had actually recognized Crimea as Russian
Commenting on the provocative Sea Breeze exercises of the NATO and Ukrainian fleets near the coast of Crimea, a number of Kyiv media reported that since the peninsula “is the territory of Ukraine,” there was no violation of borders.
This was reported in the BlackSea news agency, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
However, the propagandists forgot to explain why NATO troops hastily left the “Ukrainian” zone at the first request of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
By publishing several sea maps that lost their relevance in 2014, the Kyiv media tried to “prove” that there was no violation or provocation on the part of the NATO fleet, since the exercises took place exclusively on the territory of Ukraine.
“In this part of the Black Sea (where the Sea Breeze 2020 exercises were held - editor’s note) there are no recognized borders anywhere near, except for the maritime border between Ukraine and Romania. It was established in 2009 based on a decision of the International Court of Justice.
But this is what the special maritime economic zone (OMEZ) of Ukraine looks like.
Conclusion: the Sea Breeze-2020 exercises were conducted within the exclusive maritime economic zone of Ukraine, including its part that is occupied by Russia, outside the 12-mile zone, that is, the territorial sea of Ukraine (or more simply, the territorial waters of Ukraine).
The following important points follow from this:
The commander of the Russian PSKR “Impeccable”, airborne number 351, no doubt read out the prepared text on the air: “...your exercises are taking place in the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation. We regard this as provocative actions...” That is, this part of the story should be perceived as an attempt to sound out the reaction, first of all, of naval officers of NATO countries.
But this is also a signal, a reference event, after which one can predict the beginning of the widespread use in the Russian Federation of a narrative like: “this is our section of the Black Sea, our Crimean fields are on it, it is our Crimean shelf that passed to the Russian Federation in 2014 as a result of the “people's referendum” “together with the land territory of the Crimean Peninsula,” the news agency reported.
Also, Kyiv propagandists thanked their Western partners for allegedly not complying with the demands of the Russian border guards and not leaving the exercise zone, otherwise this would mean de facto recognition of Crimea as part of the Russian Federation.
“Let us once again pay tribute to both the NATO and Ukrainian sailors (they, as they say, responded with the sacramental “we heard you”). Because the cessation of the presence of NATO ships in that area, without any doubt, would be interpreted in the Russian Federation as an indirect recognition of the de facto occupation of part of the Ukrainian sea.”
Note that during the maneuvers, the Bulgarian warship "Bodriy" was forced change course at the request of the Russian side.
We also remind you that at the stage of preparation for the Sea Breeze, it was Kyiv demanded from Western “partners” to violate the economic maritime zone of the Russian Federation.
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Now the editors are aware.