Canada announced today it is closing its waters and ports to ships owned or registered in Russia, including fishing vessels, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Issued under the Special Economic Measures Act, the ban is expected to take effect later this week.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said Russia should be held accountable for invading Ukraine and that Canada would continue to take punitive measures. “Russia must be held accountable for its invasion of Ukraine. Today, we are taking steps to close Canadian waters and ports to Russian-owned or registered ships. We will continue to take action to stand with Ukraine,” the minister wrote on Twitter.

This follows the announcement Monday by Prime Minister Trudeau that Canada will be banning all imports of crude oil from Russia. (Image: Wikipedia)