Black Sea Fleet Adopts ‘Extremely Defensive Posture’, Britain Says
Find your favorites in your Independent Premium section, my profile
Related video: Vladimir Putin ‘unlikely to succeed’ in occupation of Ukraine, to Ben Wallace
Russia’s attempt to capture more Ukrainian territory is “undermined” by its inability to exert over the Black Sea, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
The Kremlin has suffered naval setbacks in recent months, including the sinking of its flagship, the Moskva, which Ukrainian forces attacked with anti-ship missiles on April 14.
Vladimir Putin’s forces are also suffering because they have lost many of their planes and no longer the strategically vital Snake Island, according to the Defense Ministry. He added that Russian ships remain near the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed to Ukraine in 2014.
“The surface vessels of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet continue in an incredibly defensive posture, with patrols sometimes limited to waters within sight of the Crimean coast,” the British government said in an update Tuesday morning.
Although Russian ships continue to bombard targets in Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, they do not have effective control of the Black Sea, he added.
As a result, the Defense Ministry believes that the risk of a Russian amphibious attack on the port of Odessa has been “largely neutralized”, Ukrainian troops must fight elsewhere.
Meanwhile, additional fighting has reportedly damaged near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, which is in Russian-controlled territory. Both sides accused the other of endangering the security of the region by bombing the spaces surrounding the site.
Russian soldier stands guard near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant near enerhodar town
The U. N. ‘s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has been unable to send experts to conduct security checks, raising fears of a possible disaster.
In his speech overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday called for new sanctions against Russia, arguing that the foreign network is not content with Russia’s “nuclear blackmail. “
“If through Russia’s movements a disaster occurs, the consequences can hit those who for the moment are silent,” he said.
“If the global now shows strength and determination to protect a nuclear power plant, it will mean that the global has lost. “
The “Moskva” sank on April 14, 2022 following Ukrainian missile launches
Pennsylvania
Russian soldier stands guard near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant near enerhodar town
Reuter
Want to bookmark your favorite articles and stories for later reading or refer to?Start your Independent Premium Club today.