"They are already moving ships and planes": what's going on in the Black Sea

MOSCOW, 20 Feb-RIA Novosti, Nikolai Protopopov. Destroyers, reconnaissance and strategic aircraft, large-scale exercises with allies-the NATO bloc continues to increase its military presence in the Black Sea region. The leaders of the organization claim that they are doing this involuntarily-allegedly "because of the increased activity of Russia". Moreover, when planning operations, Western generals and admirals are increasingly resorting to the help of Ukrainians who are ready to do anything to get closer to the alliance.

Patrons from NATO

The other day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg bluntly stated that the bloc "has significantly strengthened its presence on its eastern borders, including the Baltic and Black Sea regions, "and also hinted at the need to increase spending on"defense and deterrence."

Justifying the pull of additional forces to the Black Sea, he emphasizes that the Russian Navy allegedly increased its military presence here "after the illegal annexation of the Crimea." At the same time, the head of NATO prudently kept silent about the exclusively defensive nature of the maneuvers of Russian ships and aircraft.

"In the last three weeks alone, three US Navy ships have been in the Black Sea," Stoltenberg said recently. "In particular, exercises were held with the Ukrainian Navy."

Ukraine today is the main NATO ally in the region. This in Kiev, of course, is very happy and strongly welcome the maneuvers of the alliance ships in the Black Sea. The Ukrainian authorities are not upset by the prospect of the permanent presence of foreign army units on the territory of the country.

Several major joint exercises of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO units are planned for 2021. In this regard, Ukraine adopted a law on the admission of foreign troops to the country. In just a year, eight multinational exercises will be held here with the participation of 11 thousand foreign military personnel — Americans, Poles, Romanians, and the British.

US military personnel at the opening ceremony of the joint military exercises of Ukraine and NATO countries Rapid Trident-2020 at the Yavorsky training ground in the Lviv region

Image source: © RIA Novosti / Stringer

To further please the patrons of NATO, Ukrainian politicians have proposed using the airspace over Crimea for the alliance's air operations. In particular, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Vladislav Krikliy wants to provide the Simferopol Flight Information Area, which, according to Kiev's classification, includes the Kherson region, the Crimean Peninsula and the central part of the Black Sea, for the transportation of NATO troops, equipment and cargo. In addition, the Ukrainians hope for NATO support in monitoring the air situation along the border with Russia.

Recall that in 2014, the Verkhovna Rada made changes to the legislation, abandoning the non-aligned status of the state. In 2016, Kiev adopted additional amendments defining NATO membership as a foreign policy goal. However, Ukrainians are still not allowed to join the alliance, although they have been recognized as candidates. Ukraine has the status of a NATO partner with enhanced capabilities.

The US military during the exercises in Ukraine

Image source: © RIA Novosti / Stringer

Aggression without a reason

NATO, and especially the United States, have been very active in the Black Sea for a long time. After the reunification of Crimea with Russia in 2014, American ships, reconnaissance aircraft and drones regularly approach the Russian borders. This is done under the pretext of "ensuring security and strengthening the defensive presence". Although Moscow has repeatedly said that there are no plans to attack anyone.

The NATO forces use every opportunity to send warships to the Black Sea. US Navy destroyers armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and equipped with elements of the Aegis anti-missile system are regular guests here. And after the Kerch provocation of the Ukrainian Navy, the Americans look here even more often. In 2019, US ships entered the Black Sea eight times. Crews worked through the interaction, participated in joint exercises with the Ukrainian sailors.

The Russian General Staff also records an increase in the number of flights of the Pentagon's strategic aviation near the borders of Russia. The aerospace Forces repeatedly tracked the B-52" strategists " and sent fighters to intercept them. In the sky over the Black Sea, whole units of aircraft appeared — the Americans do not hesitate to openly practice strikes on objects in the Crimea.

Moreover, Kiev in September for the first time allowed US strategic bombers into its airspace. Three "strategist" conducted exercises in cooperation with the Ukrainian fighters. B-52s flew from Poland to the Volyn region, passed over the Rivne, Zhytomyr regions and the capital. Then-over Kherson and Melitopol to the north of the Crimea, and then for an hour and a half circled in the sky to the north-east of Genichesk along the coast of the Sea of Azov.

Then the commander of the Russian aerospace forces Sergei Surovikin said the unprecedented activity of NATO aircraft over the Black sea, saying that the number of flights of reconnaissance aircraft in the region increased by 40 percent, and near the Crimean Peninsula is 60%. At the same time, up to five NATO air vehicles were in the sky at the same time, just 15 kilometers from the Russian border.

RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and KC-135 tanker aircraft of the US Air Force over the Black Sea. June 26, 2020

Image source: © Russian Ministry of Defense

An impregnable fortress

The Russian Navy and Aerospace Forces have to react every time to foreign ships or aircraft in their areas of responsibility. From the point of view of defensive weapons, Crimea today is one of the most protected regions of the country. Any attempts to illegally cross the state border from the air or sea are strictly suppressed.

The air cover of the peninsula is provided by the 31st Air Defense Division, armed with S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. Su-27 and Su-30 fighters, Su-24 bombers and Su-25 attack aircraft are on constant alert to intercept intruders at the Dzhankoy, Belbek and Gvardeyskoye airfields.

By the way, the Crimean pilots recently once again demonstrated their capabilities in practice. American sailors posted online footage of a low-altitude flight of the Russian "sukhoi" near the destroyer "Donald Cook" in the Black Sea. And although the Western media tried to belittle the merits of the Su-24, calling it an outdated aircraft, the published images clearly show that in the event of an aggravation of the situation, the destroyer would hardly have remained afloat.

As for the maritime component, the Black Sea Fleet has noticeably rejuvenated in the last few years. Every year, it includes the most modern ships, submarines and support vessels.

Flight of the Su-24 near the US Navy destroyer "Donald Cook". Video frame

Image source: © U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet

Units of the Coastal Troops of the 22nd Army Corps of the Black Sea Fleet are responsible for the defense of the coast of the peninsula. Their main weapons are the "Bal" and "Bastion" complexes with cruise missiles capable of destroying surface targets at a distance of up to 500 kilometers.

On land, the 126th separate coastal defense brigade operates, deployed in Perevalny-between Simferopol and Alushta. Its main striking force is the upgraded T-72B3 tanks. The Perekop Isthmus is also controlled by the 8th Separate Artillery Regiment, equipped with 152 mm Msta-S howitzers, Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers and Chrysanthemum anti-tank systems.

Ships of the Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla during the exercises

Image source: © RIA Novosti / Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation