THE HAGUE — An international arbitration court has determined that Russia violated certain maritime laws during the construction of its bridge spanning the Kerch Strait between mainland Russia and annexed Crimea, but rejected the majority of Ukraine’s broader legal claims against Moscow.
The case was brought before the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016, after Russia began building the 19-kilometer (12-mile) bridge connecting the Russian mainland to the Crimean Peninsula.
Although the ruling was dated April 22, it was only made public on Monday in accordance with the arbitration court’s standard procedures. The five-judge panel dismissed most of Ukraine’s arguments — which centered on Russia allegedly seeking exclusive control over the strait — on procedural grounds.
Where the court did find fault with Russia, it was over the country’s failure to conduct proper environmental impact assessments before and during the bridge’s construction.
Despite finding those violations, the panel chose not to award any financial reparations to Ukraine. Both sides were directed to cover their own legal expenses accumulated over the course of the ten-year proceeding.
This case is among a number of legal actions Ukraine has pursued at various international courts and institutions, stemming from Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its full-scale military invasion that began in 2022.
The Kerch Strait bridge holds significant strategic importance, serving as a key supply route for fuel, food, and other goods flowing into Crimea. The peninsula is also home to Sevastopol, the historic base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
