RFE/RL's Brussels correspondent has sent us this reaction to events in and around the Sea of Azov from NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu:
"NATO is closely monitoring developments in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, and we are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities. We call for restraint and deescalation.
NATO fully supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including its navigational rights in its territorial waters. We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov, in accordance with international law.
At the Brussels Summit in July, NATO leaders expressed their support to Ukraine, and made clear that Russia’s ongoing militarization of Crimea, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov poses further threats to Ukraine’s independence and undermines the stability of the broader region."
Some in-depth analysis (at least by Twitter standards) from David Patrikarakos:
It's worth pointing out that Ukraine's navy lost some 50 ships during the Crimea annexation...
A quick precis of what's now reportedly going down
It seems some Ukrainian veterans are going to organize an impromptu demonstration outside the Russian Embassy in Kyiv.
We have updated our news story to keep abreast of the latest dramatic developments. You can read it here.
The Ukrainian Navy is now saying that two of its ships have been seized and two of its servicemen wounded.