MOSCOW, January 5 (RAPSI) - The Pechersky District Court in Kiev has seized two jack-up floating drilling rigs belonging to Chernomorneftegaz oil and gas company, according to court records.

Drilling rigs, “Ukraine” and “Pyotr Godovanets” have been earlier transferred from the Odessa gas field to Russia’s territorial waters in connection with complicated international situation.

The process occurred under cover of the Black Sea Fleet warships because of increased terrorist threats, according to the company’s report.

Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov said that relocation of the drilling rigs was conditioned by the technical need. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry in turn claimed that the rigs are owned by Ukraine and their transfer to the Russian territorial waters is “robbery”. Ukraine may also seek damages.

Chernomorneftegaz, a gas distributor on the Crimean Peninsula, belonged to Naftogaz of Ukraine until March 17, 2014. After the referendum on Crimea’s reunification with Russia, the company was nationalized. Currently, it is a republic-run company managed by the Fuel and Energy Ministry of Crimea. The company extracted hydrocarbons in the Black Sea and Azov Sea shelves as well as on the Crimean Peninsula. It also transports natural gas via pipeline.