Russia's Black Sea Fleet is adding more defense measures at the naval port of Sevastopol and the Crimean peninsula to deal with a possible attack from Ukraine.
"The enemy's ability to operate at sea has been neutralized, forcing him to focus on carrying out terrorist and sabotage attacks against the forces of the Black Sea Fleet, as well as on vital infrastructure on the Crimean Peninsula," Vice Admiral Viktor Sokolov, commander of the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet, said in an interview published today.
Vice Admiral Sokolov said that the Black Sea Fleet has strengthened its multi-layered defense network at its main base in the Sevastopol naval port and military ship anchorage, to counter the threat from suicide boats and unmanned underwater vehicles.
"A unified information network is set up to promptly alert and share data between forces, including naval aviation aircraft and helicopters. We also added more air defense batteries to support the crews on warships," the Russian general added.
Russian air defense crews participating in military operations in Ukraine. Photo: Ria Novosti
The Black Sea Fleet will receive four new warships in 2023, Sokolov said, adding that surface ships and submarines under his command have struck more than 180 key Ukrainian targets with Kalibr cruise missiles over the past year.
Sevastopol is a city located in the south of the Crimean peninsula, home to the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy.
Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula after a referendum in 2014. Moscow said the results showed most Crimeans wanted to become part of Russia, but Ukraine and Western countries considered the move illegal.
Shortly after launching its operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow took control of swaths of land in southeastern Ukraine to create a land corridor from Donbass to Crimea.
Russia has repeatedly accused the Ukrainian military of using drones and suicide boats to attack infrastructure on the Crimean peninsula, but Kiev has always denied any involvement in these incidents.
Crimean peninsula and surrounding areas. Graphics: RYV
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on February 24 that his country was preparing weapons and forming assault brigades to retake Crimea, but did not specify when the attack would be launched. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly stated that Crimea is an important target in the counterattack and vowed to retake territories controlled by Russia.
The Kremlin later warned that Ukraine's attack on Crimea was a "dangerous" act that could escalate the conflict and affect European and global security.
Vu Anh (According to Zvezda, Reuters )
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