The MFA of Ukraine condemned the illegal inclusion of Berdyansk and Mariupol in the list of Russian ports open to foreign vessels

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the aforementioned decision is a blatant violation of the fundamental norms and principles of international law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned the order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated August 22, 2025, by which the seaports of the temporarily occupied Ukrainian cities of Berdyansk and Mariupol were included in the list of Russian ports open to foreign vessels, the Central Shipping Agency writes.

“We consider such actions as another attempt by Russia to legalize its occupation and consolidate illegal control over Ukrainian territories,” the message says.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the aforementioned decision is a blatant violation of fundamental norms and principles of international law, in particular: the UN Charter, which enshrines the principle of sovereignty of states and the prohibition of interference in their internal affairs, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which establishes that the regulation of navigation in the territorial waters of Ukraine falls exclusively within its competence, and resolutions of the UN General Assembly, which confirm Ukraine’s sovereignty over all territories within its internationally recognized borders and strongly condemn the ongoing Russian aggression.

“Ukraine calls on partners to introduce additional tough sanctions against all Russian individuals and legal entities, foreign companies, in case of their involvement in commercial activities in the seaports of Berdyansk and Mariupol, as well as vessels calling at ports in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine,” the ministry added.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to urgently draw the attention of all member states to the need to strictly comply with the provisions of IMO Assembly Resolution A.1183(33) of December 4, 2023 “Impact of the Russian armed invasion of Ukraine on international shipping”, which calls on member states to inform vessels flying their flag, shipowners, operators and insurance brokers of the need to refrain from violating the regime of closed seaports in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.