The murky Russian attack Sunday on Ukrainian ships in waters near Crimea is coming into somewhat clearer focus. Russia acknowledges firing on the ships as they tried to pass through the narrow Kerch Strait and seizing them along with 23 Ukrainian sailors, who are still being held.

At a special session of the U.N. Security Council, Ambassador Nikki Haley of the U.S. called the attack an “arrogant” and “outlaw” act, echoing Britain, France and others.

NATO said it would increase its military presence in the area and called on Russia to guarantee freedom of navigation for Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait — through which Russia, seeming to tamp down the confrontation, has allowed cargo traffic to resume.

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