Moscow, November 26 (RHC)-- Russia's foreign ministry accused Ukraine on Monday of deliberately provoking an incident in the Kerch Strait near the peninsula of Crimea on Sunday, in order to create a pretext for new sanctions to be imposed on Moscow.

According to TASS news agency, on Sunday morning three ships from the Ukrainian Navy illegally crossed Russia’s border and tried to carry out some illegal actions in Russian territorial waters.

They ignored legitimate demands to stop issued by vessels belonging to the FSB Border Service and the Black Sea Fleet and continued maneuvering dangerously. In order to stop the Ukrainian ships, weapons had to be used. The three vessels were detained in Russian territorial waters. Three Ukrainian military servicemen suffered light wounds and were provided with medical assistance, reported Tass.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko has enacted the National Security and Defense Council’s decision to declare martial law until January 25, 2019, says a document published on the presidential website.

The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said the declaration of the martial law serves the ambitions of president Poroshenko of remaining in power, seeking a reelection at  the presidential polls scheduled for next March.