Contents tagged with Black Sea

  • Russian commander says Black Sea Fleet is capable of destroying enemy landing forces

    TASS reports that the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, Valery Gerasimov, stated that the Black Sea Fleet of Russia “is capable of destroying enemy landing forces in ports of their landing.” Gerasimov did not specify which ports or what country he was referring to but he noted that enemy landing forces “should not reach the Black Sea coast of the Crimea wherever they are coming from.”

    Gerasimov stressed that the Black Fleet of Russia uses the Bastion coastal defense …

  • France increases its military presence in the Black Sea

    French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, during his visit to Georgia, said that a French warship will soon arrive in Batumi. According to the Minister, this is one of the symbols of French-Georgian cooperation.

    "The main message of my visit is that we are planning to increase the number of ships in the Black Sea. A warship will be located in Batumi, and this fact signifies the historic partnership between our countries, imbued with trust," the Minister said at the press conference.

    The …

  • Ukrainian border guards record presence of Russian FSB ship in the Black Sea

    On September 1st, a patrol aircraft of the Ukrainian State Border Service identified the Russian FSB Coast Guard patrol ship Izumrud in the Black Sea. The Russian ship was noted in Karkinitsky Bay about 10 miles from the southern part of Dzharylgach Island, as reported on September 2nd at a briefing by a representative of the State Border Guard service, Oleh Slobodian.

    “A tactical group comprising of the ship Podilia and motor boat Zlatokrai of the Maritime border guard went to this area …

  • Russia's Black Sea Fleet begins naval exercises

    The Black Sea Fleet of Russia has started naval exercises. Their press service announced on Wednesday that the exercises would last until August 27th. According to their press release, “At the initial stage, Naval Forces will perform anti-submarine tasks, deploy anti-mine forces and carry out minefield operations.”

    Crews of the mine-sweepers Turbinist and Ivan Golubets will search and destroy minefields mainly by shooting at floating mines. The guard ship Admiral Grigorovich and small anti- …

  • Russia's Permanent Representative to NATO: Military buildup in Crimea is not directed against NATO

    The build-up of Russian military forces in the Crimea is not directed at anyone, including NATO. According to RIA Novosti, this was said by Russia's Permanent Representative to NATO, Alexander Grushko.

    “Somehow, there exists a kind of contrived element of intimidation of public opinion if we talk about the perception of what we are doing in the Crimea. NATO is actually well aware that a very serious Russian component has always been present in the Crimea at all times,” Grushko explained. …

  • Russia's Black Sea Fleet began large-scale exercises

    The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have begun large-scale exercises. As the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry reports, the exercise will take place in the ranges, airfields and training facilities of the Southern Military District and in the Black Sea.

    "Logistical support, engineering, moral and psychological security, communications security, radio-electronic warfare and nuclear, chemical and biological (NBC) protection issues will be worked out in practice. The plan …

  • Russia to deploy two powerful radar systems in the Baltic and Black Seas

    Russian Interfax news agency reported that Russia may attempt to compensate for the increase in NATO’s military activity by placing two new radar stations in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, which would be able to control the 200-mile coastal zone.

    "It is expected that modified Podsolnuh (Sunflower) over-the-horizon radar units will start combat duty in the Baltic Sea in 2017," Interfax’s source said, adding that similar radar could be deployed in the Crimea in 2017. “It can see any warship …

  • Georgian Defense Ministry: NATO cannot ensure security in the Black Sea without the aid of Georgia

    The issue of the Black Sea’s security, which is being considered by NATO, cannot be successful without Georgia,a as expressed by the republic's Defense Minister, Tinatin Khidasheli, Interfax reports.

    "Today, NATO is actively working on the Black Sea security issue, and Georgia is participating in it. Any decision that will be adopted at the [NATO] summit in Warsaw will be made with Georgia. No matter whether Georgia is a member of NATO or not, this is the direction and challenge; we have …

  • Military expert: It would take Russia several hours to take away Ukraine's presence in the Black Sea

    After the annexation and militarization of Crimea, it would take just a few hours for Russia to relieve Ukraine of its status of maritime power and to block the country from accessing the Black Sea. This was said by the Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament, Mykhailo Samus, during an interview with Radio Krym.Realii.

    “Russia can easily, and within a few hours, block access to the sea for Ukraine and also deprive Ukraine of its maritime power status. We …

  • NATO plans to strengthen its military presence in the Black Sea region

    After a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the Alliance will continue to build up its military presence in the Black Sea region, Evropeyskaya Pravda reported.

    "There will be more pre-disposed equipment. Today, we have also confirmed Romania's proposal to establish a multinational brigade on its territory, and we will continue to take other measures to strengthen the balance of power in the southeastern direction,” Stoltenberg stated.

    "We have …