On 15 June 2017 at the session of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) the delegation of Ukraine made a statement on foreign-flagged vessels calling illegally at closed seaports in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

Strong protest has been expressed with regard to another Russian armed provocation – firing on 1 February 2017 at the Ukrainian Navy An-26 transport aircraft in the area of Odessa gas field in the maritime exclusive economic zone of Ukraine.

Following the discussion, delegations of 19 IMO member states, including Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, have supported the position of the delegation of Ukraine and once again condemned the illegal annexation of the Crimea.    

Consequently, the Russian delegation’s attempts at the session to accuse IMO and Ukraine of considering issues that are outside the remit of the Organization found no support among other delegations.