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A potentially major escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which accused Moscow of firing on and then illegally seizing three of its naval ships just off of Crimea on Sunday. A charge that if confirmed could spark a dangerous new crisis between the two countries. Russia did not immediately or directly respond to Ukraine's allegation.
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But Russia news agencies cited the SFB security services saying it had inconvertible proof that Ukraine had orchestrated what it called, quote, a provocation, and said it would make its evidence public soon. The confrontation began earlier on Sunday after Russia stopped two small Ukrainian armored artillery vessels and a tug boat by placing a cargo ship beneath the Kerch Strait Bridge, which was built after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
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Tensions between the two countries have run high since then. And Sunday's standoff in the Black Sea risks pushing them back toward a wider conflict.