Kiev asked Russian warship to pay for Kerch Strait passage

09.09.2011 For the first time in the history of Russian-Ukrainian relations, Ukraine charged Russian warship to pay for passing through the Kerch Strait, reported RIA Novosti on Sept 8 referring to a source in Black Sea Fleet HQ.

Black Sea Fleet (BSF) large landing ship Azov was sailing through the Kerch Strait to the town of Azov to participate in the festivities related to the Town Day. The ship was supposed to arrive in the Azov port on Sept 9.

"It was the first precedent in Russo-Ukrainian relations when Ukrainian maritime authorities asked the Russian warship's commanding officer to take a pilot on board and pay for his services", said the interviewee.

According to him, the ship laid another course to Azov via Russian side of the strait because pilotage services have been never rendered to Russian ships for a fee.

That fairway goes through shallow waters, so normally neither warships nor merchant vessel use it. However, large landing ship Azov has shallow draft, explained the source in Black Sea Fleet HQ.

Russian and Ukrainian presidents on Apr 21, 2010 signed an agreement in Kharkov (Ukraine) prolonging presence of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea on 25 years after 2017 (till 2042) with possible further 5-year extension. In exchange, Ukraine received discount for Russian natural gas, but is presently contesting the price again.