UN General Assembly Adopted the Resolution Proposed by Kyiv on the Militarization of the Crimea

The United Nations General Assembly in New York adopted a resolution proposed by Ukraine and called “The problem of militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine), as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov”. The document was supported by 66 countries – members of the UN, 19 voted against it, 72 – abstained. The resolution stated that presence of the Russian military in Crimea contradicts the national sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The UN General Assembly “expresses serious concern over the gradual militarization of Crimea by the Russian Federation as an occupying power”, including supply of weapon systems, such as nuclear aircraft and missiles, weapons, ammunition and military personnel, the document says. The General Assembly condemns Russia’s “increasing military presence” in parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, including the Kerch Strait, “as well as restrictions imposed by Moscow on international shipping in the region. The document also condemns Russia for constructing and opening of the bridge across the Kerch Strait. On November 25, Russian border guards fired on and captured three naval vessels of Ukraine near the shores of the annexed Crimea. There were 24 Ukrainian sailors on board. A Russian court arrested them for two months on a charge of illegal border crossing. They face up to six years in prison. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of provocation. Western countries require Russia to release the sailors. Russia annexed the Crimea in 2014. Ukraine, the EU countries and the USA consider this Ukrainian territory occupied. Source: svoboda.org