Russian propagandist inadvertently proves that naval forces of AFU did not prepare a provocation in Kerch Strait

Naval crew of the AF of Ukraine, attacked by Russia, was not intended to carry out a provocation in the Kerch Strait. This is evidenced by the relevant checklist of the readiness of Nikopol Ukrainian armored boat to put to the sea, made public by Russian propagandist Alexander Kots.

So, according to this document, apparently, seized by the FSB officers aboard the captured boat, the purpose of the ship crew was to relocate from Odessa to Berdiansk. The expected time of arrival at the port of destination was 6 p.m. on November 25.

It is noteworthy that in the checklist, the combat boat was ordered "to strictly adhere to safety measures when putting to the sea and using weapons, military equipment and navigation safety" in accordance with all international maritime laws.

Russian propagandist Kots published this document, the authenticity of which was not confirmed, emphasizing that Ukrainian ships were ordered to focus on the secrecy of passage to the Kerch Strait and its passage. Thus, he wanted to support the Russian version of the fact of open aggression, based on the accusations of Ukraine of deliberate provocation.

In fact, it is obvious that the crews of the naval crew of the AF of Ukraine had a simple task: to make the transition from one Ukrainian port to another without creating any threat to either the civil courts or illegally built Kerch Bridge.

As for the secrecy of the transition, this procedure is well-defined in the naval charters of the naval fleets, including the Russian Navy. "Before putting to the sea, the commander of sea-going command of the ships sets the task to the commanders of the ships for alley way, introduces them to the situation at the crossing, indicates the route order and (determines - OstroV) measures for organizing all types of defense and protection, ensuring the secrecy of the transition", - Ship Navy Charter of Russia said.

As previously reported, on November 25, Ukrainian Berdiansk and Nikopol small armored artillery boats and Yany Kapu tugboat carried out a planned transfer from the port of Odessa to the port of Mariupol. They were intercepted by four border ships of the Russian Federation near the Kerch Strait, although, according to the Ukrainian Navy, the Russian party was informed about the transfer of the ship crew in advance. In the evening, the ship crew of the Navy of the AFU moved to the exit from the strait. Russian ships began pursuing, then opened fire and seized the Ukrainian ships. According to the Ministry of Defence, six Ukrainian sailors were injured, 23 servicemen were captured. The Russian party unreasonably claims that the Ukrainian ships carried out the "illegal crossing of state border of the Russian Federation and that it was a planned provocation.