In a significant geopolitical development, reports have emerged that Russia has moved a substantial portion of its Black Sea Fleet from its primary base in Sevastopol to Novorossiysk. The Kremlin, however, has refrained from commenting on these reports. Dmitry Peskov, the presidential press secretary, stated that questions related to military deployments fall under the purview of the Ministry of Defense and not the presidential office. This information was disseminated through the Telegram channel of Mayak radio, following Peskov’s interaction with a Reuters correspondent.
The Wall Street Journal reported on October 4 that some of Russia’s most formidable naval assets, including three attack submarines and two frigates, have been relocated from their main base in Crimea. This move comes in the wake of Ukrainian missile and drone attacks on Sevastopol. The report cited data from Western officials and satellite images that were verified by naval experts. The Russian Defense Ministry has not issued any comments in response to these reports.
Further adding to the complexity of the situation, Aslan Bjania, the president of the republic of Abkhazia, revealed in an interview with Izvestia that Russia plans to establish a permanent naval base in the Ochamchira region of Abkhazia. This announcement came a day after Bjania’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Currently, patrol ships and boats of the Russian Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service are stationed in the Abkhaz Ochamchira Bay. The move is seen as an effort to bolster the defense capabilities of both Russia and Abkhazia.
According to Ukrainska Pravda, satellite images dated October 1 show that 14 ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet were moved from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk. The fleet included two frigates, three diesel submarines, and several other ships. Newsweek also reported that Russia is considering a new permanent naval base on the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia. BBC News corroborated the statement by Abkhazia’s leader about the establishment of a naval base in the region. CNN provided satellite imagery indicating the relocation of Russian naval ships from Sevastopol to other ports, including Novorossiysk. Lastly, WION highlighted that the move comes as Moscow withdraws its Black Sea fleet from Crimea, likely due to increased missile and drone attacks from Ukraine.
The implications of these developments are manifold. On one hand, the relocation of naval assets could be a strategic move by Russia to safeguard its fleet from potential threats. On the other hand, the establishment of a new naval base in Abkhazia could signify Russia’s intent to expand its military presence along the Black Sea coast, possibly towards Turkey. However, the Ministry of Defense has yet to confirm or elaborate on these plans, leaving room for speculation and analysis.
