a propaganda war against the Kyiv government. The Russians seized three Ukrainian military vessel as the boats were trying to cross the strait, and captured 24 sailors who were finally released after months of negotiations.

On February 24, 2022, Russian forces began shelling Mariupol at the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. By May, with the end of the siege of Mariupol, Russia fully captured the city and blocked off Ukraine's