Ukraine is suing Russia at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague over the violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The head of state wrote this on his Facebook page on Monday.

"I have signed a respective order on Ukraine's representation in the Arbitration Tribunal of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the absolutely clear position of protecting Ukraine's interests in connection with violation by Russia of the sovereign rights of Ukraine in the Black and Azov Seas and the Kerch Strait," the president wrote.

He recalled that on February 20, it would be exactly four years since Russian aggression against sovereign and independent Ukraine had started with the illegal annexation of Crimea, when the invasion of Russian troops has begun the four-year story of heroic defense of Ukraine, struggle for sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the state.

The head of state noted that "the fight takes place not only on the frontline and involves not only the Armed Forces of Ukraine." "This struggle is also carried out in the political, diplomatic and legal dimensions," Poroshenko said.

He said that "Ukraine has made unprecedented efforts defending its legal positions."

"This concerns legal cases in the international court in The Hague regarding Russia's violation of the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This concerns Russia's violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and several other international documents," Poroshenko said.

The president underscored the role of the team of the best experts in the preparation of those lawsuits: "Today is another stage. We have drafted the order on the representation of Ukraine in the legal proceedings concerning Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereign rights in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait."

He also said that the economic interests of Ukraine were seriously damaged, in particular, by illegal mining of minerals and construction of the Kerch Bridge without the permission of the state of Ukraine that leads to significant negative environmental, infrastructure and transport implications.

Poroshenko emphasized that "it doesn't concern Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea": "This issue is out of discussion and nobody doubts it. It's about the protection of the economic interests of Ukraine and private investors whose property in Crimea was confiscated."

According to the presidential press service, in accordance with the order signed by the head of state, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Olena Zerkal will defend Ukraine's interests in the Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding violation by Russia of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

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