Russia is continuing to implement its “boa constrictor strategy” in the Sea of Azov, aimed at strangling the economy of Ukraine’s littoral areas (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, February 22, April 12, May 22, 31, June 11, 28). The overall situation has sharpened since this spring, when the Russian coast guard first began systematically boarding and carrying out purposefully time-consuming inspections of merchant vessels traveling to and from Ukraine’s Azov Sea ports. In the past six months, a total of 683 merchant vessels (Gazeta.ua, November 2) from 19 countries, including four Black Sea states (Bulgaria, Romania, Turley and Ukraine), have been targeted by this type of Russian activity (Blackseanews.net, July 10).