Zelensky Swears Not to Shave Until Captured Ships Return to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a unique vow. He stated that he is superstitious and will not shave until three Ukrainian ships that were captured in November 2018 in the Kerch Strait for violating Russian borders return. This was reported by RIA Novosti.

On November 18, Moscow handed over three ships of Ukraine's naval forces, which had been detained in the Kerch Strait, to the Ukrainian side. According to the Ukrainian naval forces, the ships are heading to Odessa, and their arrival is expected on November 20-21.

“I want to apologize for not being shaved. There is a Ukrainian word 'zabobon' (superstition). Now I am waiting for the ships. When the ships return, then I will shave,” Zelensky said after a meeting in Kyiv with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

On November 25, 2018, the Ukrainian naval ships Berdyansk, Nikopol, and Yany Kapu violated the state border of Russia and performed dangerous maneuvers, ignoring official demands. It was decided to arrest the border violators. Twenty-four servicemen were detained, including employees of the Security Service of Ukraine who were leading the operation.

Afterward, Kyiv accused Moscow of aggression. Vladimir Putin referred to the incident as a planned provocation connected to low ratings of then-President Petro Poroshenko ahead of the presidential elections.

On September 7 of this year, the captured servicemen were transferred to Ukraine as part of agreements for simultaneous releases of detained and convicted individuals.