The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has condemned as illegal and void Russia’s August 22, 2025 order adding the occupied ports of Berdiansk and Mariupol to its official list of seaports open to foreign vessels.
Kyiv stressed that the move represents yet another attempt by Moscow to legitimize its occupation and consolidate unlawful control over Ukrainian territories. The MFA called it a gross violation of international law, including:
the UN Charter,
the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,
and UN General Assembly resolutions affirming Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Ukraine urged its international partners to impose additional sanctions on Russian individuals, companies, and foreign firms engaged in commercial activity at these ports, as well as against vessels entering them.
The MFA also appealed to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to ensure strict compliance with IMO Resolution A.1183(33), which calls on states to warn vessels, operators, and insurers against entering closed ports in occupied Ukrainian territory. Kyiv further called for international measures against vessels that violate this regime.
Ukraine emphasized that Russia’s actions demand a firm international response, including potential restrictive measures against Russian ports supporting the Kremlin’s war effort.
CIVIL MEDIA News Desk
