Russian Black Sea Fleet stays away from Crimea: Reason explained
Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy (facebook.com/Taclbery)
Ukraine's strikes on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters and other sites have highlighted the vulnerability of Crimea's facilities. As a result, Russia currently does not plan to fully return its fleet to Crimea, according to Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk.
According to Pletenchuk, the situation in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov remains stable. Russian forces keep their vessels at a distance from Ukraine’s defense forces but rely on aviation to patrol Crimea’s western and southern coasts.
"The enemy continues to avoid the Sea of Azov, and their fleet, what could be deemed combat-ready, remains based in Novorossiysk," Pletenchuk said.
He added that Russia keeps a submarine equipped with cruise missiles in the area to protect other vessels, though this is not its primary function at the moment — it is not intended for missile launches but for security.
At the same time, Russian aviation is actively conducting reconnaissance and patrol flights over Crimea's adjacent waters, Pletenchuk said.
"They are attempting to protect the waters near temporarily occupied Crimea, particularly active along the western and southern coasts," he said.
Pletenchuk was also asked whether Russian forces are rebuilding command posts in Crimea in preparation for the Black Sea Fleet’s return, which has been speculated online.
"Let’s recall the strike on the Black Sea Fleet’s command post and headquarters. If this information is confirmed, it would look somewhat strange. But it doesn’t necessarily indicate any plans for a return to Crimea. Right now, there’s nothing to suggest the Russians are holding out hope for this," the Navy spokesperson answered.
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Crimea
Pletenchuk said this summer that Russia had withdrawn all patrol ships of its Black Sea Fleet from Crimea. Recently, Russian sources confirmed this as well. Russian Senator Dmitry Rogozin announced that the Black Sea Fleet had decided to leave Crimea.
Later, Pletenchuk confirmed that as of October 24, the Russian fleet had indeed left Crimea, though the threat of attacks remains.
He added that the only reliable security guarantee would be the complete absence of Russian ships in the Azov-Black Sea region — a situation that is now, in essence, taking shape.
