The Ukrainian stickleback (Pungitius platygaster) also known as Caspian ninespine stickleback; southern ninespine stickleback; Aral ninespine stickleback, is a species of fish in the Gasterosteidae family. It is found in Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Iran, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Ukraine (Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Aral Sea and Caspian Sea basins).A combination of two characters: lack of caudal peduncle keel, presence of large lateral scutes. It is similar to P.