June 22, 2026

Let the Law of the Sea Decide


Let the Law of the Sea Decide
According to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Russia has done no wrong.  The Russian Life files.

A unanimous ruling by a five-member tribunal in the Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration delivered a major legal windfall in legitimizing Russia’s maritime claims to the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait. The independent panel consisted of arbitrators from the UK, Mexico, Algeria, South Korea, and Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry declared the case a significant failure for Ukraine and the West, taking evident pride in legally flexing its sovereignty over Crimea and the surrounding waters. Every one of the claims brought by Ukraine was rejected, including the request to control the area’s fishing and hydrocarbon resources, and to be awarded reparations for damages wrought by Russia. A charge of Russia causing environmental damage to the waterways was dismissed.

Furthermore, the attempt to classify the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as international waters was denied. The Kerch Strait is a strategic waterway connecting the Black and Azov Seas and separates Crimea to the west and Russia's Krasnodar Krai to the east. With the Kerch Strait now legally under Russian jurisdiction, the passage of ships from any country (including warships) comes at the discretion of Russian border guards.

An additional decision sided with Russia, supporting the Crimean Bridge, a 12-mile road-and-rail artery that crosses the Kerch Strait. The Ukrainian delegation raised objections that the bridge impedes navigation of the waters. In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry replied that Ukraine's assertion “revealed the inhumane nature of the Kyiv regime, which continues to seek to punish the Crimeans for their choice in favor of Russia.”

Russia’s restrictions on foreign maritime activity in the Black Sea were also ruled to fully comply with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

The Permanent Court of Arbitration was established in 1899 to settle disputes between states, especially when diplomacy fails. Decisions made in the court are legally binding and there is no avenue for appeal.

You Might Also Like

Black Rain of War
  • April 29, 2026

Black Rain of War

An environmental catastrophe hits Tuapse following an attack by Ukrainian drones on a local oil refinery.
Ten Years of Russian Crimea
  • June 16, 2024

Ten Years of Russian Crimea

Russian state media outlet Izvestia is celebrating ten years since the Crimean annexation with a special feature that's pure propaganda.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955