Lefortovo court in Moscow ruled to prolong the detention term for the captured Ukrainian sailors until July 2019. This is the outcome of the court hearing that took place on Wednesday. By the time the hearing was over, the court extended the detention period for all 24 Ukrainian servicemen.

In November 2018, the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy attacked three Ukrainians ships, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. Ukrainian ships were rejected passage via the Kerch Strait; the Russian coast guards opened aimed fire on them.

Three Ukrainian sailors were wounded in the attack. All 24 were captured and taken to Russia; later, the injured servicemen underwent surgeries.