You're reading: The Telegraph: Russia ‘ruined’ Ukrainian naval vessels before handing them back

The Telegraph: Russia ‘ruined’ Ukrainian naval vessels before handing them back

Published Nov. 21, 2019 at 5:54 pm

People get ready to welcome Ukrainian navy ships upon arrival at a port in Ochakiv on November 20, 2019. - Russia on November 18, 2019 handed over three navy ships it seized a year ago from Ukraine in the latest move to ease tensions between the two countries ahead of a crucial summit. The Ukrainian "Nikopol", "Berdyansk" and "Yany Kapu" vessels were seized in November last year in the most serious confrontation between the two countries since the start of the conflict in 2014. (Photo by Oleksandr GIMANOV / AFP)

Photo by AFP

Three Ukrainian navy boats seized by Russia a year ago were vandalized before being handed back to Ukraine, the country’s navy said.

The fast gunboats Nikopol and Berdyansk and the tugboat Tany Kapu were welcomed by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and onlookers waving national flags arrived in Ochakiv, a Ukrainian naval port on the Black Sea on Nov. 20evening.