On 14 September 2016, Ukraine announced that it had instituted arbitration proceedings against Russia under Annex VII of UNCLOS with respect to maritime zones adjacent to Crimea in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait.
Ukraine claims that Russia has interfered with Ukraine’s maritime rights in these zones. A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine states that “Ukraine has asked the arbitral tribunal to enforce its maritime rights by ordering the Russian Federation to cease its internationally wrongful actions in the relevant waters, to provide Ukraine with appropriate guarantees that it will respect Ukraine’s rights under UNCLOS, and to make full reparation to Ukraine for the injuries the Russian Federation has caused”. At the time of writing, there had been no official response from the Russian Federation.
For the statement of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, click here.