Kiev says Crimean rig move violates Ukraine’s rights

KIEV, Dec 16 (PRIME) -- Transportation of drilling rigs of Crimean oil company Chernomorneftegaz to Russian waters violates sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

The Russian government has ordered Chernomorneftegaz to relocate two drilling rigs to Russian waters from a deposit near the northwestern shelf of the Black Sea, 150 kilometers off Crimea. An escort vessel was sent on Tuesday to protect the rigs.

“The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine qualifies the above mentioned activities of the Russian side as internationally illegal activities, targeted at a systematic violation of sovereignty, of sovereign rights and of Ukraine’s jurisdiction for domestic waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf of the Black and Azov Seas,” the ministry said.

Ukraine can demand compensation for the Russian actions, the ministry said.

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