Additional Coverage:
- Russia’s navy pulled its last patrol boat from Crimea, Ukraine says, after getting pummelled for months (newsbreak.com)
A military naval ship belonging to Russia has departed from Crimea, one of the last of its Black Sea Fleet to do so, announced a Ukrainian navy spokesperson. Dmitry Pletenchuk stated on Monday that this marks a significant moment as the Russian patrol ship was observed exiting what he referred to as “our Crimea.” This event potentially concludes the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s operations in the peninsula, ongoing since its annexation from Ukraine in 2014.
Pletenchuk communicated these developments in a Facebook post, highlighting the departure by stating, “The last patrol ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is leaving our Crimea right now. Remember this day,” as translated by Ukrainian state-affiliated news outlet Militarnyi. Follow-up comments from the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine echoed Pletenchuk’s announcement in a Telegram post on Tuesday, confirming that no Russian naval ships remain in the Black Sea.
The specifics of the ship were not disclosed by Pletenchuk, though he had previously mentioned in a Ukrainian TV interview that Russia was down to a solitary, inadequately performing missile ship in the region.
Requests for further comments from Pletenchuk and the Naval Forces went unanswered.
If confirming the fleet’s departure holds, it could signify the end of Russia’s naval influence near Crimea. The Russian presence, centered at the Sevastopol Naval Base, has been pivotal since taking control of Crimea. Over the ongoing conflict initiated by Russia in February 2022, Ukrainian forces have successfully targeted nearly half of the Russian fleet’s warships, including a submarine, through various military tactics such as aerial, sea drones, and anti-ship missiles.
This year, Ukraine’s military efforts have reportedly dismantled a third of Russia’s Black Sea fleet. The effectiveness of Ukraine’s military strategy led to the UK Ministry of Defence labeling the Russian Black Sea Fleet as “functionally inactive.”
As a result of continual Ukrainian strikes, Russian naval operations shifted away from Crimea, relocating to ports like Feodosia in Crimea and Novorossiysk in Russia. Even these locations have not been safe from attacks, with Ukrainian drones targeting Novorossiysk port as recent as last May.
In adapting to these pressures, the Russian navy has preferred operating from the relatively safer Sea of Azov for missile launches against Ukraine, according to Pletenchuk.
According to international security expert Basil Germond from Lancaster University in the UK, Ukraine’s persistent advancements indicate a significant strategic shift in control over the Black Sea, posing a considerable challenge to Russia. The loss of naval assets, both costly and time-consuming to replace, compounded by restrictions from the Montreux Convention, restricts Russia from reinforcing its Black Sea fleet with resources from other naval fleets.
Germond noted that these military setbacks represent a critical blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly considering Crimea’s significant role in Russia’s national narrative. The symbolic victory for Ukraine in these naval confrontations is equally vital, underscoring a shift in power dynamics in the region.