The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has expressed its resolute protest over the illegitimate decision by Moscow's Lefortovo District Court to extend the arrest of 24 Ukrainian servicemen captured by Russia in November 2018, according to a statement released by the ministry.

"The trial of these Ukrainian servicemen runs counter to international humanitarian law. The closed-door court hearing today is clear evidence that the Kremlin is fully complicit in this sham trial. […] We call on the international community to condemn Russia's actions and to consolidate pressure on Moscow that will lead to the release of all 24 prisoners of war, currently incarcerated in Russia," the statement reads.

The ministry said that according to the 1949 Third Geneva Convention, Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, captured Ukrainian sailors have the legal status of prisoners of war.

"We therefore strongly demand that the Russian Federation treats them in full accordance with their status and with full respect to their rights under international humanitarian law. In addition, we urge the Russian side to promptly provide medical findings on the health of these wounded prisoners of war and to provide treatment," the ministry said.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry thanked international partners whose representatives came to the court premises to support the Ukrainian servicemen.

On January 15 and 16, the Lefortovo District Court decided to extend for three months the arrest of 24 Ukrainian sailors captured by Russian troops in the Kerch Strait on November 25, 2018.