DISINFO: West doesn't know where the Azov Sea is, it demonizes Russia
SUMMARY
The conflict took place in the Black Sea. The US and their western allies do not know where the Azov Sea is. They continue to demonize Russia.
RESPONSE
The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Azov Sea. The Ukrainian vessels were en route to the Azov Sea. This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation on Azov Sea and the West as Russophobic.
For background:
On November 25 border patrol boats belonging to Russia’s FSB security service seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and their crews after shooting at them, wounding several Ukrainian servicemen. Russia argued that they were in Russian waters. However a bilateral treaty between Russia and Ukraine, signed in 2003 and ratified by Russia in 2004, governs the use of the Kerch strait and the Sea of Azov, which in the treaty is considered to be the “internal waters” of both Russia and Ukraine.
The construction of the Kerch Bridge took place without Ukraine's consent and constitutes a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It has led, in parallel with the militarisation of the Azov Sea, to tougher controls on naval traffic in the strait. The European Union stated that it expects Russia to stop the inspections. NATO is also "closely monitoring developments" in the region.
For further reporting see the Bellingcat, DFRLab and Polygraph.