The Hague court did not recognize the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov as "Russian lakes"

An international arbitration tribunal has affirmed Ukraine’s rights as a coastal state in the Black and Azov Seas and the Kerch Strait and has rejected Russia’s claims to sole control over these waters.

This was reportedby the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

This concerns a case that Ukraine initiated back in 2016 over Russia’s violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea following the occupation of Crimea. The Arbitration Tribunal issued its decision on the merits on April 22, 2026, and on June 15, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released its key findings.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized that the tribunal did not agree with Russia’s claims that the Black and Azov Seas and the Kerch Strait are allegedly under the exclusive control of the Russian Federation. Instead, the court confirmed that the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait remain the internal waters of both states, and Ukraine retains all its rights as a coastal state regardless of the occupation of part of its territory.

The tribunal also ruled that Russia’s actions during the implementation of infrastructure projects in the Crimea region and in maritime areas violated international law and obligations regarding the protection of the marine environment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that no unilateral decisions by Russia following the full-scale invasion can alter Ukraine’s internationally recognized status as a coastal state in the Black and Azov Seas.

The case is of particular importance for Ukraine’s southern regions, as it concerns navigation, the use of natural resources, fishing, and control over maritime routes in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

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