ISW: Russian Fleet Has Finally Left Sevastopol

• 17.12.2023, 12:54

Interesting photographs from the new Russian naval base have been published.

Missile strikes and UAV attacks allowed Ukraine to deprive the Russian Federation of maritime initiative in the Black Sea. This is stated in a report from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) dated December 16.

“Satellite imagery indicates that Ukrainian strikes caused Russian forces to move BSF assets away from occupied Sevastopol to ports in the eastern part of the Black Sea on an enduring basis,” analysts noted.

Russia has moved the surface and underwater forces of its Black Sea Fleet to Novorossiysk, further from the front line. Now the aggressor country is creating conditions for the permanent basing of warships on the east coast.

Surface combatants such as the Krivak-class frigate and smaller vessels such as corvettes of Project 1241 and 1124 have already been redeployed to Novorossiysk.

The Russian occupiers also moved most of the Kalibr missile carriers, including Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, Buyan-M small missile ships and Kilo-class submarines.

“The latest satellite images show that the ships moved to Novorossiysk in the autumn did not return to Sevastopol,” ISW emphasized.

In addition, Ukrainian attacks hindered the Black Sea Fleet security patrols and maintenance abilities blocking Ukrainian ports.

Russia is also building a seaport in Abkhazia. Analysts suggest this signals Moscow's "long-term intention" to move more of its forces further away from the occupied Crimea. The port development should take 2.5 years.

“Ukraine’s long-range strikes against the Black Sea Fleet contributed to humanitarian and military successes in the Black Sea and allowed Ukraine to seize the initiative in the Black Sea even without an effective fleet,” ISW noted.

According to analysts, additional long-range missiles would allow Ukraine to keep its waters open for maritime traffic and keep the Russian Black Sea Fleet further from the NATO coast.