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An international Arbitration Tribunal has confirmed that Ukraine retains its status and sovereign rights as a coastal state in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait, rejecting Russian attempts to alter the legal status of these waters through unilateral actions, UATV English reports.
The ruling was highlighted by Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement commenting on the Tribunal’s decision in the case concerning the rights of a coastal state in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait (Ukraine v. the Russian Federation).
According to the ministry, the Arbitration Tribunal issued its final decision on the merits of the case on April 22, 2026. The proceedings were initiated by Ukraine on September 14, 2016, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Foreign Ministry emphasized that the Tribunal rejected the notion that the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait could be regarded as exclusively Russian waters.
“In its final decision, the Arbitration Tribunal did not recognize the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait as a so-called ‘Russian lake.’ Instead, it confirmed their status as internal waters shared by two states—Ukraine and the Russian Federation,” the ministry stated.
The ruling affirms that Ukraine continues to possess all rights granted to it under international maritime law as a coastal state in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait. The Tribunal further concluded that Russia’s actions following the full-scale invasion in 2022 have not altered Ukraine’s legal status or sovereign rights in these maritime areas.
The court also found that Russia violated obligations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in connection with infrastructure projects carried out in the region.
According to the decision, Russia failed to conduct proper environmental impact assessments during the construction of the Kerch Bridge, the installation of underwater power cables, and the laying of a gas pipeline. The Tribunal determined that Moscow also failed to adequately notify interested parties and publish the results of environmental assessments, violating international obligations related to the protection of the marine environment.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry described the ruling as another significant confirmation of Russia’s disregard for international law.
“The decision once again demonstrates that the Russian Federation systematically violates international legal norms, while its attempts to impose the consequences of its aggression as a ‘new reality’ have no international legal recognition and will not receive such recognition,” the ministry said.
The case was launched by Ukraine in 2016 to defend its rights in maritime zones adjacent to occupied Crimea. Kyiv argued that Russia had unlawfully interfered with Ukraine’s rights to maritime resources, navigation, and environmental protection in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait.
The Tribunal’s ruling represents one of the most significant international legal decisions concerning maritime rights and jurisdiction in waters affected by Russia’s occupation of Crimea and its broader aggression against Ukraine.
