Ukraine to assess damage inflicted by Crimea occupation after UN Tribunal rules on jurisdiction

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted that Ukraine reserved the right to assess the damage caused by Russia as a result of Crimea occupation until the final stage of the dispute with the Russian Federation about its violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982).

If Ukraine is able to prove within the framework of the initiated dispute with Russia on Moscow's  violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that the case falls under the international arbitration's jurisdiction, then the question will arise for Ukraine to prove damage caused by Russia's actions o as a result of the occupation of Crimea, Deputy Foreign Minister for European Integration Olena Zerkal told TV Channel 5.

"We have already begun to prove the damage. This work is ongoing because the damage volume never stops growing while Russia continues violating our rights. Therefore, we declared the damage, but reserved the right to calculate all damages connected with the usurpation of Ukraine's rights already at the final stage of the case," Zerkal said.

Read alsoHague court starts to consider Naftogaz lawsuit vs Russia on seizure of assets in CrimeaAt the same time, she did not name the exact amount of damage that Russia inflicted on Ukraine as a result of the seizure of Crimea. According to Zerkal, she will not "speculate on billions." At the same time, she noted that on gas extraction alone, Ukraine has been losing about 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually. Moreover, there is potential income lost from wells where Ukraine had only been planning to start producing gas. "We also planned to conclude agreements on the distribution of products with Exxon Mobile," said Zerkal.

The total sum will be "fairly large amount", according to the deputy minister.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine on February 19, 2018, filed a memorandum in arbitration proceedings against the Russian Federation under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("UNCLOS").

Since 2014, Russia has unlawfully excluded Ukraine from exercising its maritime rights; it has exploited Ukraine's sovereign resources for its own ends; and it has usurped Ukraine's right to regulate within its own maritime areas.

The document submitted by Ukraine on February 19 contains all details regarding its claim and legal grounds. Then, the Russian side will have three months to prepare its objections.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry expects a final decision by the International Tribunal on the UNCLOS violations by Russia no earlier than 2021.