In Sevastopol, on the Krum peninsula, stationed since 1783.
Western-backed missile attacks banned from mainland Russian ports
Ukraine attacks mainland Russian port with homegrown drone
The U.S. Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 4th (local time) that the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which suffered heavy damage from the Ukrainian military’s drone and missile attacks, moved submarines and frigates from the Sevastopol Naval Base on the Crimean Peninsula to ports on the Russian mainland. time) reported.
WSJ analyzed that the ship movement shows that Russia is having difficulty controlling the Crimean Peninsula.
Satellite photos confirm that Russia moved three attack submarines and two frigates from Sevastopol to other parts of Russia and the Crimean Peninsula.
This is a notable case of the first retreat since Russia occupied the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. As a result of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the country had no choice but to withdraw its ships from the port of Sevastopol, which had been under Russian control since the time of Empress Katrina in 1783.
Ukraine has attacked Sevastopol in recent weeks, destroying the Black Sea Fleet headquarters and Russian ships. Ukraine is believed to have succeeded in its attack with missiles supported by the West.
Meanwhile, moving the ship to another port is not expected to have a significant direct impact on the war situation. This is because these ships can still fire missiles to attack Ukraine’s power facilities. In addition, Ukraine has already blocked the Black Sea Fleet’s blockade of Ukrainian ports and opened a grain export route. However, the withdrawal of the Black Sea Fleet from the Krum Peninsula can greatly boost the morale of the Ukrainian military, which has launched a major counteroffensive but has been unable to achieve a breakthrough.
In a video taken by a Planet Labs commercial satellite on the 1st, it was confirmed that several ships of the Black Sea Fleet moved to Novorossiysk, a Russian port on the Black Sea. All three of the fleet’s attack submarines moved, as did two frigate missile ships and a reconnaissance ship. One large amphibious assault ship, several small missile ships, and a new minesweeper moved to the port of Feodosia, located at the eastern end of the Krum peninsula.
It appears that the reason Russia’s main ships were moved to the port of Novorossiysk on the mainland was because the West supported long-range missiles and restricted them from attacking the Russian mainland.
However, the Ukrainian military attacked the Novorossiysk port early this year with a drone vessel it developed in-house. Accordingly, the Russian Navy is preparing for attacks on Ukrainian military drone ships by installing nets and deploying barges at the entrance to Feodosiya Port.
Last year, Russia attempted to occupy Ukraine’s largest port, Odessa, during a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but failed due to Ukraine’s counterattack. Rather, it suffered great damage, including the sinking of the Moscow ship, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, due to a missile attack by Ukraine. Recently, special forces from the Ukrainian military intelligence service have landed on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula and are operating there.
Ukraine has greatly strengthened its attacks on the Black Sea fleet since Russia suspended the grain export agreement in July and began attacking Ukraine’s grain export ports. As a result, the operational capabilities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet have been greatly reduced.
Ukrainian military spokeswoman Natalia Khmenyuk said on the 4th that Ukraine had moved its Black Sea front line back more than 100 nautical miles (about 185 km) from the Ukrainian coastline. Russian ships cannot advance beyond Cape Tarkankut at the western end of the Krum Peninsula.
The Russian Black Sea Fleet is unable to strengthen its naval power in the Black Sea due to Turkiye, which blocks all warships from entering the Black Sea.
The economic effect is also significant, with Ukraine’s grain exports resuming after a brief pause due to the suspension of the grain export agreement as Ukraine gained control of part of the Black Sea. The new route passes through Ukrainian territorial waters guarded by the Ukrainian Navy and the territorial waters of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members Romania and Bulgaria.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.