Photo from UNIAN
Russian occupation forces continue to extract gas from the Black Sea deposits in the exclusive (maritime) economic zone of Ukraine, according to the State Border Guard Service.
The Ukrainian border guards initiated another observation deployment of an interdepartmental group on board the Coast Guard’s Hryhory Kuropyatnikov vessel to the area in the vicinity of the gas deposits.
Together with representatives of Naftogaz of Ukraine, Chornomornaftogaz, military prosecutor's office, the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Main Directorate of the National Police in Crimea , the State Geological Control, Environmental Inspection, the Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and with the participation of the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, border guards inspected the locations of deposits in the north-western part of the Black Sea – Shtormove, Arkhangelske, Holytsynske, and Odeske.
Read alsoLittle-known firm acquires Russia license to produce gas in occupied Crimea – mediaThe inter-departmental group aimed to verify reports on the activities at some sections of the Black Sea shelf, relocation of Russian-seized jack-up floating drilling rigs, and supply of additional equipment, which may indicate illegal extraction by Crimea's occupation authorities of natural resources belonging to Ukraine.
Hryhory Kuropyatnikov sailed along 20 sites at four gas fields.
"Once again, the presence of armed men was recorded. When the Coast Guard’s ship approached, they took up combat positions and at times openly aimed guns towards the ship. When questioned over the radio, the crew of the drilling platforms recognized their Russian affiliation and claimed that they remained in neutral waters and did not violate the law. However, they did not confirm they did any gas extraction," the border guards reported.
Read alsoHague court starts to consider Naftogaz lawsuit vs Russia on seizure of assets in CrimeaAt the same time, the experts from Naftogaz and Chornomornaftogaz have spotted at several locations the equipment indicating the ongoing work on the renewal, reinstallation or repair of mechanisms and devices, which means that they were used for drilling operations. At the same time, the process of drilling was recorded at the Krym-1 (renamed Ukraina) platform in Odeske gas-condensate field.
"Operating within the framework of the legislation of Ukraine and the norms of international law, the Coast Guard ship’s crew warned the crews at facilities in all gas fields that their offenses had been recorded and that continued illegal activities in Ukraine’s exclusive maritime economic zone were unacceptable," the report said.
Also in the border guards said that upon the approach to the area of the Odeske gas field of Priazovye recon ship of the Russian Sea Fleet, the Ukrainian Coast Guard’s vessel, in accordance with the requirements of the international convention, informed the Russian crew about the presence of armed people at the facilities, requesting an appropriate response. The ship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation refused from assistance offered by the Ukrainian border guards and recommended to stay away from the site, without provoking or physically forcing the Ukrainian ship out of the area.
Based on the results of the field survey, the interdepartmental group compiled a report on the offenses recorded, which was submitted to the military prosecutor's office.