The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a victory in an international arbitration in The Hague in the case concerning rights in the Black and Azov Seas and the Kerch Strait.
This was reported by Kremlin-controlled media citing the Russian MFA.
This concerns a years-long dispute between Ukraine and Russia that was considered by an international arbitration tribunal.
Ukraine in this case sought to prove that after the occupation of Crimea Russia unlawfully restricted its rights as a coastal state. In particular, Kyiv demanded recognition of its rights to maritime territories in the Black and Azov Seas and the Kerch Strait, access to natural resources, freedom of navigation, and compensation for damages. Ukraine also alleged environmental harm from infrastructure projects implemented after the occupation of Crimea.
Russia claims that the arbitration did not uphold a significant portion of Ukraine’s claims. In particular, the court did not recognize Kyiv’s claims regarding Russia’s blocking of the Kerch Strait, access to resources in the seas, and compensation.
The Russian side also reports that the arbitration did not satisfy Ukraine’s demand for the dismantling of the Kerch Bridge.
Separately, it concerns infrastructure facilities that Russia associates with the occupied territories — Crimea and part of the Kherson region. These are transport and logistics projects that provide connections between these territories and, according to the Russian side, comply with international maritime law.