Russian males barred from entering Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials on Friday raised the stakes in their nation’s growing confrontation with Russia, announcing a travel ban for most Russian men and searching the home of an influential cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The long-simmering conflict bubbled over Sunday when Russian border guards rammed into and opened fire on three Ukrainian boats near the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. The vessels were trying to pass through the Kerch Strait on their way to the Sea of Azov, where Ukraine has two major ports. The Russians then seized the ships and have detained their 24 crew members.