It's a "smuggler's haven area" because the Russians are sending the smugglers. As for this "barge" nonsense, how does one sail a barge with tanks on it from Crimea, which has a Red Naval base, and land it anywhere else but Russian territory and then drive it into Ukraine? Maybe it was a rocket ship that landed in the UK and then was shipped via airline?
Map of Ukraine:
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?encType=1&where1=Ukraine&cp=48.9265632629395~31.4757823944092&FORM=MIRE2
The big blue thingy in the center is called “The Sea of Azov”.