Russia has banned foreign ships from parts of the Black Sea

On April 24, local time, Russia will suspend access to three areas of the Black Sea, during which foreign warships and other foreign state-owned vessels will be banned from the waters, according to a statement issued by the Russian Defense Ministry’s Navigation and Oceanography Administration. The decision began at 2100 hours local time on the 24th and continued until 2100 hours on 31 October.

The announcement stressed that the decision does not affect the passage of ships in the Kerch Strait, and that all three areas stipulated are located in Russian territorial waters.