( CNN) Russian authorities must release the 24 Ukrainian sailors who is currently captured last year after entering the Kerch Strait, a United Nation maritime tribunal has ruled.
Ukraine said two of its small gunboats and one tugboat were attacked after entering the Kerch Strait en route to the city of Mariupol. Russia said the Ukrainian ships illegally entered Russia's territorial waters, to be undertaken by dangerous maneuvers.
The UN International Tribunal for the Statute of the Sea said Russia must release the sailors immediately and advised both nations to not escalate the conflict.
