Trade routes are not blocked, the Kremlin representative stressed
MOSCOW, February 10. /tass/. All military maneuvers of Russian ships in the Black Sea as part of the exercises comply with international law, trade routes are not blocked. This was stated to journalists by the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, responding to a request to comment on statements from Kiev that these maneuvers block trade routes in the Black Sea.
"All military maneuvers and movements of Russian ships in the Black Sea are carried out in strict accordance with international maritime law," Peskov said.
When asked if this means that the ships do not block trade routes, the Kremlin representative noted: "No, [they don't block]."
As previously reported in the Black Sea Fleet, a detachment of large amphibious ships of the Russian Navy as part of the BDK Korolev, Minsk, Kaliningrad, Pyotr Morgunov, George the Victorious and Olenegorsky Miner completed the inter-fleet crossing around Europe. At the moment, the ships are entering the main base of the Black Sea Fleet - the city of Sevastopol.
The Navy recalled that in accordance with the training plan of the armed forces of the Russian Federation for 2022, a series of naval exercises is being held in January-February in all areas of responsibility of the fleets under the overall leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Nikolai Evmenov. The main focus of the exercises is to work out the actions of the fleet and Aerospace Forces to protect Russian national interests in the world Ocean, as well as to counter military threats to Russia from sea and ocean directions.
The exercises cover the waters of the seas adjacent to the Russian territory, as well as operationally important areas of the World Ocean. Separate exercises will be held in the waters of the Mediterranean, Northern, Okhotsk Seas, in the northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean and in the Pacific Ocean. In total, over 140 warships and support vessels, more than 60 aircraft, 1 thousand units of military equipment, about 10 thousand military personnel are involved in the events.
