Russian Dominance and the Weakening of International Law
- January 27th, 2020
- in Capstone Commentary
by Ethan Roberson
On November 25, 2018 Russian ships opened fire on three Ukrainian ships (two warships and one tugboat) in a narrow, but strategic sea passage, the Kerch Strait, which separates Crimea and mainland Russia. This confrontation resulted in the injuries of at least six Ukrainian sailors, the capture of more than twenty Ukrainian sailors, and, ultimately, the blockade of the entrance to the Kerch Strait by Russia. Russia’s recent antagonism of Ukraine, blatantly and actively breaches international law and remains, at its simplest form, an act of war. However, what is equally troubling, if not more so, is the resounding lack of a strong, unified international response.