Ukraine depriving Russian Navy of authority in Black Sea - UK intelligence
Photo: Ukraine has undermined the authority of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea (rosmedia)
Ukraine continues to strike Russian naval facilities in the Black Sea. The warships are busy repulsing the attacks, the UK Ministry of Defense says.
The overall pace of maritime operations in the Black Sea remains slow. Ukraine continues to successfully limit Russian maritime operations to the eastern part of the Black Sea.
The Russian Navy's perception of the threat of attack from Ukraine is evident in its frequent dispersal exercises and anti-unmanned surface vessel/unmanned aerial vehicle exercises in and around Novorossiysk.
“Ukraine continues to undermine the credibility of the Russian Black Sea Fleet by seeking to target naval infrastructure and vessels in the Black Sea,” the statement says.
According to UK intelligence, a Russian massive missile attack on November 28, targeting critical national infrastructure in several regions of Ukraine, included launches from Russian Navy vessels operating in the Black Sea.
“The Ukrainian Air Force reported 28 land-attack cruise missiles were fired, and that their air-defense system was able to intercept a high percentage of incoming weapon systems fired from both the RFN and Russian Long Range Aviation,” the UK Ministry of Defense said.
Earlier, UK intelligence reported that before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the Russian leadership almost certainly perceived the Russian Navy and the Black Sea Fleet as integral components of its strategic naval power.
According to UK intelligence, Russia's Black Sea Fleet lost a quarter of its ships to Ukrainian strikes. It was forced to withdraw from Crimea but retains the ability to launch missiles.
Ukraine's Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa, said that the Russian Black Sea Fleet was forced to relocate almost all of its combat-ready ships from occupied Crimea to other locations.
