KIEV, July 26 – Russia’s Naval Commander, Admiral Vladimir Vysotskiy admitted Sunday that Russian forces had violated an agreement with Ukraine by attempting to transport cruise missiles across Sevastopol, leading to tensions with local police.

“There is the agreement that must be scrupulously adhered to by both parties. I admit that the Russian party has violated some positions,” Vysotskiy told reporters in Sevastopol.

Police over the past four weeks three times stopped Russian convoys that had attempted to transport the cruise missiles across Sevastopol without obtaining proper permissions from the Ukrainian authorities.

The developments escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine in the region, dominated by ethnic Russians. A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry last week defended the attempts, saying they were in line with the agreement.

Vysotskiy’s comments underscore a turnaround in Russia’s position, suggesting that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet (BSF) may have failed to secure the proper permissions from the Ukrainian authorities.

Vysotskiy visited Sevastopol to celebrate Russia’s Navy Day on July 26. The BSF is based in Sevastopol, according to a 20-year lease agreement signed between Russia and Ukraine in 1997 after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The BSF is the smallest of Russia’s four navies that also include the Pacific Fleet, the Baltic Fleet and the Northern Fleet.

“Once the festivities are over, on Monday the Main Department of the Navy of the Russian Federation will investigate this situation,” Vysotskiy said in comments carried by Interfax-Ukraine. “If those guilty are found, they will be punished.”

Last week Ukraine’s police stopped a BSF convoy of three heavy trucks carrying at least three powerful cruise missiles.

“The Russian navy has been posing a threat to lives of Sevastopol residents,” a Ukrainian naval officer said. “This must be first agreed by the Ukrainian authorities.”

Last week police also stopped a convoy of 22 Russian armored personnel vehicles, with mounted Russian state and naval flags, that were about to enter Sevastopol, allegedly for rehearsal of a military parade that the BSF had planed to hold July 26.

The Ukrainian authorities have never given permission for the armored personnel vehicles to enter Sevastopol.

The incidents dangerously escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine in a sensitive region that is dominated by ethnic Russians and come amid increasingly assertive foreign policy by Moscow.

Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry called on the BSF “against violating mutual agreements on BSF stationing on the Ukrainian territory and the Ukrainian law.” (tl/ez)