Russia opens fire on Ukrainian vessels near Kerch Strait: Ukrainian Navy

KIEV -- Russian forces have opened fire on Ukrainian vessels near the Kerch Strait, injuring one person, the Ukrainian Naval Forces said on Sunday.

The armored artillery boat of the Ukrainian Navy "Berdyansk" was damaged during the attack, the navy said in a statement on Facebook.

Earlier on the day, the Russian Federal Security Service's Border Service in Crimea said that three Ukraine naval ships violated the Russian border in the Black Sea and conducted dangerous maneuvers defying Russian orders.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Navy said it has informed Russia in advance about the passage of Ukrainian vessels from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait separating the two seas.

According to local media reports, Russia has blocked Ukrainian vessels from entering the Sea of Azov.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has accused Russia of provocative actions, saying it has "violated freedom of navigation by unlawfully using force" against the Ukrainian ships.

Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations, said Kiev would appeal to the UN Security Council over the incident.

Ukraine has accused Moscow of "aggressive actions" in the Sea of Azov after Russia inaugurated a bridge over the Kerch Strait in May this year and started carrying out inspections of commercial ships sailing through the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

Russia said the inspections of ships are aimed at ensuring security in the waters of the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait and do not violate the international law.