Russia-Ukraine crisis: Kiev declares martial law as world powers condemn the seizure of ships by Putin's forces near Crimea

Russian ship rams into a Ukrainian navy tugboat

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine for 30 days as president Petro Poroshenko warned of the “extremely serious” threat of a Russian land invasion.

The parliament voted in favour of the measure on Monday night in response to the capture of three Ukrainian navy vessels and twenty-three crew members by Russian ships near the Kerch Strait.

Russia’s actions were also condemned at emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, where US representative Nikki Haley described the incident as an “outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory.”

The secretary-general of Nato, Jens Stoltenberg, also said there was “no justification” for the seizure of the Ukrainian ships and sailors.

Meanwhile there there violent protests in Kiev and demonstrations outside Russian embassies across the world, including in London, Washington DC and Brussels.

It marked an escalation of tensions that have soared since Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backed a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine said its vessels were heading to the Sea of Azov in line with international maritime rules, while Russia charged that they had failed to obtain a permission to pass through the Kerch Strait separating Crimea from the Russian mainlan

It is the only passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It is spanned by a 11.8 mile bridge that Russia completed this year.

While a 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters, Russia has sought to assert greater control over the passage since the annexation of Crimea.

The seizure of the Ukrainian ships followed a tense situation in which the three Ukrainian vessels were manoeuvring near the Kerch Strait for hours shadowed by Russian coast guard boats.

Following the capture of the Ukrainian ships on Sunday, Russia closed the Kerch Strait for sea traffic by positioning a tanker under the bridge spanning it. It reopened the route early Monday.

If you want to read how the situation developed, please read our live coverage below.

Please allow the blog a moment to load

Key Points

• Ukraine's parliament votes to impose martial law for 30 days
• Russia's actions condemned at emergency meeting of UN Security Council
• Russia accuses Ukraine of deliberately provoking incident in Kerch Strait
• Dozens of far-right protesters in Ukraine burn tires outside Russian consulate

[26 November 2018 20:10 · Peter Stubley]

Donald Trump has broken his silence on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, telling reporters as he left the White House that he does not like what is happening, according to reports.

The US president said he was working with European leaders on a solution.

He has not yet tweeted about the situation, preferring to launch another attack on CNN and speculate about establishing a "Worldwide Network" to compete with it.

[26 November 2018 20:14 · Peter Stubley]

Mr Trump: "We do not like what's happening either way. And hopefully it will get straightened out."

[26 November 2018 20:51 · Peter Stubley]

Here's a map showing the border areas where martial law will apply in Ukraine.

[26 November 2018 21:09 · Peter Stubley]

Protests are taking place outside Russian embassies around the world, including London, Washington DC and Brussels.

The US embassy in Ukraine has issued a security alert following a violent protest in Kiev last night.

"The U.S. Embassy expects that additional protests may occur throughout Ukraine; even peaceful demonstrations may become violent without warning and attract petty criminals and hooligans. Expect heavier than normal police presence in the vicinity of Russian diplomatic facilities and cultural offices. Also expect to encounter possible street closures, restrictions, and searches."

[26 November 2018 21:39 · Oliver Carroll]

Ukrainian MP @Leshchenkos tells me that Poroshenko offered concession on regional martial law only at last moment + only when he realised he could not get vote through otherwise. Was a "face-saving" compromise.

[26 November 2018 22:10 · Peter Stubley]

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has issued a statement condemning the "aggressive Russian action" against Ukraine.

The United States expresses its deep concern over the incident in the Black Sea that occurred November 25 as Ukrainian vessels attempted to transit through the Kerch Strait. Reports that Russian vessels rammed and fired on the Ukrainian ships, injuring Ukrainian crewmen, before seizing three vessels, represent a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law.

The United States condemns this aggressive Russian action. We call on Russia to return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters.

We call on both parties to exercise restraint and abide by their international obligations and commitments. We urge Presidents Poroshenko and Putin to engage directly to resolve this situation. In that regard, we reiterate our support for the Normandy Four format.

The United States supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters, as well as the right of its vessels to traverse international waters. As stated in our Crimea Declaration, the United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea.

It hasn't gone down well with Garry Kasparov, Russian chess grandmaster and Putin critic.

[26 November 2018 22:36 · Peter Stubley]

That's it for the liveblog for now. Here's our story on Ukraine's decision to impose martial law for the first time since 1945 in response to the clash with Russia.