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 missile system, submarines with Caliber missiles and strategic aircraft with cruise missiles. He also boasted that the balance of power between the Russian Black Sea Fleet and Turkish Naval Forces has changed dramatically and will continue to do so for years to come.
“Several years ago, combat capabilities of the fleet contrasted strongly with Turkish Naval Forces, when it was said that Turkey was practically the full master of the Black Sea. Now it’s different,” he said.
The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine noted that Russian troops practiced offensive operations during the final part of the active phase of the Kavkaz 2016 military exercises.
On August 18th, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stated that he has not discounted the possibility of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and warned about the possibly imposing martial law in that event.