The Russian Duma and Federation Council adopted a law yesterday, canceling the agreement of cooperation with Ukraine concerning the Sea of Azov. Russia declares that sea to be solely Russian waters.
"With the admission of Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions to Russia, the shores of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait now belong only to the Russian Federation - Law says. The map above shows the Sea of Azov highlighted in red.
The waterway leading from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov is the Kerch Strait. Across that strait is the new Kerch Strait Bridge, which Ukraine has, in the past, bombed.
Russia repaired that bombing damage and re-opened the bridge, but recent intel from inside Ukraine reveals there are ongoing, active discussions in Ukraine about destroying that bridge to cut-off Russian access to Crimea.
With Russia's Parliament now having declared its sole sovereignty over the Sea of Azov, there is no no longer any reason for Ukraine Navy -- or any other Navy -- to enter anywhere in the Sea of Azov.
The Russian Parliament did this while NATO has been building up forces in the region.
What if NATO decides to send a naval ship into the Sea of Azov because NATO "doesn't recognize" Russia's action? Maybe the NATO vessel gets sunk? Maybe that is the "incident" which triggers direct war?
This situation grows worse and worse by the day.
