OREANDA-NEWS. Australian government announced sanctions against seven Russians, owing to Kerch Strait incident. Taking this decision, Australia has joined the EU, the US and Canada’s sanctions.

Australia has joined the sanctions against Russia, owing to what has happened in November 2018 in Kerch Strait. This was reported in the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country Marise Payne, published on the website of the office.

“We fully support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” the statement runs. It is also reported that Australia does not recognize the "annexation of Crimea and secession of Donetsk and Lugansk regions from Ukraine."

Earlier, on the same reason the EU announced sanctions against Russian FSB (Federal Security Service) officers and military men.

The statement runs that Australia is concerned by escalation of tension since November 2018 in the Sea of Azov. Canberra introduced individual sanctions against seven people involved, as said in the statement, in "interception and seizure” of Ukrainian naval vessels while attempting to pass through the Kerch Strait." The said sanctions cover targeted freezing of bank accounts and a ban on entry to Australia.

The list includes commander of Southern Military District of Russian Armed Forces Alexander Dvornikov, head of the FSB Border Directorate in the Crimea and Sevastopol, Sergey Stankevich, and deputy head of the said FSB Border Directorate, Andrey Shein.

The list also included commanding officer of “Don” patrol ship Alexey Salyayev, commanding officer of small-size anti-submarine ship "Suzdalets" Sergey Shcherbakov, commanding officer of “Izumrud” patrol ship Andrey Shipitsin, head of service in Kerch Control Point Alexey Shatokhin, head of the service of the FSB Control Point in Crimea and Sevastopol Ruslan Romashkin.

On November 25, 2018 three Ukrainian naval ships, while on their way to the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea, violated the rules of navigation through Russian Federation’s territorial waters. The commanders were ignoring the call-ups to stop. Then military force had to be used. The ships were delivered to Kerch. A criminal case was opened owing to the violation of the border of Russia. The Ukrainian ships’ crews were arrested.