Last weekend, paramilitary forces of the Russian FSB intercepted two small Ukrainian naval vessels and a tugboat attempting to pass through the Strait of Kerch. The Ukrainian vessels were navigating from the Black Sea port city of Odessa to Mariupol, on the coast of the Sea of Azov when the incident occurred. Now, with at least three injured Ukrainian sailors, both parties are pointing the finger at each other. Yet, whoever is right, the naval standoff illustrates the importance of the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov.