Selenskyj announces new strategy for the Black Sea
At the annexation of Crimea, Ukraine lost significant parts of its fleet to Russia. However, Kiev managed to push back Russian warships near its coast. President Zelensky intends to take further steps now.
Ukraine will push back Russian influence in the western part of the Black Sea. His country will develop a new national maritime strategy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his daily video address. "We understand clearly that the war has changed the balance of forces in our Black Sea region, and the Russian fleet in this basin will never dominate again," Zelensky said optimistically. Ukraine will pursue its own national interests at sea and those of its partners, and protect transportation routes, he added.
Russia had already taken control of a large part of the Ukrainian fleet during the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Several ships went to Russia for Kiev shortly after the start of the large-scale Russian invasion in 2022 with the capture of the port city of Berdiansk in the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia. The flagship of the Ukrainian Navy, the Hetman Sahaidachnyy, went down in Mykolayiv.
Despite the fact that the Ukrainian Navy currently does not have larger warships, Kiev has managed to drive out the Russian Black Sea Fleet from the western part of the Black Sea with the use of missile systems and naval drones. This allowed at least partial revival of maritime trade through Odessa. The Ukrainian Navy is expected to be reinforced with deliveries from Western partners in the near future.
Besides strengthening its own offensive power at sea, Zelensky also promised further improvement of air defense. He referred to the acquisition of another Patriot unit from Germany and hinted at further reinforcements in the coming week.
- In response to the Attack on Ukraine and Russia's control over part of its fleet, President Volodymyr Selensky has vowed to counter Russian influence in the Black Sea, stating, "Ukraine will pursue its own national interests at sea and those of its partners."
- The Shipping routes in the Black Sea are of utmost importance for Ukraine, and President Selensky has emphasized the need to protect them, stating, "We will protect transportation routes to ensure the continued flow of goods and services."
- The tensions between Ukraine and Russia have significantly influenced Politics in the region, with President Selensky highlighting that "the war has changed the balance of forces in our Black Sea region," and Russia's dominance in the area will not persist indefinitely.
