The law prohibiting Russian ships from accessing the internal waters of Ukraine came into force on January 1, 2022. The corresponding document, adopted by the Ukrainian parliament on December 3, 2020, is posted on the parliament's website.

Ships flying the flag of the "aggressor state" can no longer carry passengers and cargo on international flights between river ports. A similar measure has been introduced with regard to coastal cargo flights in the country's inland waters.

In addition, the document introduces a ban on registration in the State Ship Register of Ukraine of floating crafts owned by Russian citizens.

The internal river waterways in Ukraine include such rivers as the Dniester, Danube, Dnieper and others.

Russian-Ukrainian relations have deteriorated due to the armed conflict in Donbass. Kiev accuses Moscow of interfering in internal affairs, and in January 2015 declared it an “aggressor country”. The West supported Ukraine and imposed sanctions against Russia.

The Kremlin has repeatedly stressed that the country does not participate in the internal Ukrainian conflict and is interested in Kiev's overcoming of the political and economic crisis.