The exercises of the Russian Navy began in the Black Sea. They will be held from 13 to 19 February. Even before they began, the maneuvers provoked a sharp reaction in Ukraine and in the NATO countries. understood what the purpose of the teachings was. The maneuvers with the participation of more than 30 Russian warships started in the Black Sea, the press service of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) of Russia reported. “At various stages of the exercises, naval formations and units of the coastal forces of the fleet aviation will carry out a complex of missile and artillery firing, missile and bomb strikes against sea, coastal and air targets,” the report says.

The purpose of the exercise is to defend the sea coast of the Crimean peninsula, the Black Sea Fleet's bases, as well as facilities of the country's economic sector, maritime communications and areas of maritime economic activity.

At the initial stage of the exercises, the ships left the bases in Sevastopol and Novorossiysk, and then "made the transition to the designated areas." Commander of the Black Sea Fleet Admiral Igor Osipov directs the maneuvers.

Earlier, the press service of the Black Sea Fleet reported that scheduled exercises will be held in the Black Sea, in which naval tactical groups of the Black Sea Fleet will participate. During preparation for them, the sea minesweepers Valentin Pikul and Vice Admiral Zakharyin worked out training tasks at one of the Black Sea training grounds.

In connection with the upcoming exercises, Russia has blocked several areas of the Black and Azov Seas for navigation, which caused indignation in Ukraine. The command of the Naval Forces (Navy) of Ukraine stated that Russia is engaged in "destructive activities" in the "Azov-Black Sea region".

“Russia continues to destabilize the situation in the Azov-Black Sea region by closing a significant part of the sea areas - almost the entire south of the Azov Sea and the north-west of the Black Sea. Russia has declared them dangerous for navigation for the period from 13 to 19 February in connection with the exercises, which will include rocket and artillery firing. In parallel, Russia continues the militarization of the Black Sea region in order to put pressure on Ukraine and the world,” the Ukrainian Navy said on Facebook.

The exercises are being held at a time of acute crisis in relations between Russia and NATO. Western countries and Ukraine have repeatedly announced the concentration of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border and the allegedly preparing "Russian military invasion" of Ukraine. Moscow, in turn, has repeatedly stated that Russia has no aggressive plans towards Ukraine.

“Russian exercises in the Black Sea are taking place without regard to the interests of Ukraine and are yet another proof of Moscow’s aggressive policy in the region,” the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said in a special press statement.

“That's what I want to draw attention to. The maneuvers of the Russian Navy are taking place against the backdrop of preparations for the naval exercises of the NATO countries "Mission Clemenceau - 2022" in the Mediterranean Sea. As part of these exercises, it is planned, among other things, the passage of alliance ships to the Black Sea. This is a very rare coincidence. In fact, this means a demonstrative show of strength to each other, ”said Mikhail Nelyubin, a retired rear admiral, a former employee of the Main Staff of the Russian Navy.

The rear admiral added that "such a coincidence in the conditions of an extremely difficult military-political situation could lead to an escalation of the confrontation."

The French military portal Opex360 also notes that the coincidence of Russian exercises with preparations for NATO exercises "threatens dangerous incidents."

“The passage of the British destroyer Defender into the Black Sea in June 2021 was the reason for such an incident. Russia considered that the destroyer entered its territorial waters and opened warning fire, after which the Defender changed course,” recalled the Opex360 portal.

Military expert, retired captain first rank Dmitry Zhukov noted that the NATO exercises "were announced before the Russian ones."

“This means that Russian maneuvers can be regarded as a response to the maneuvers of Western partners. It is thus not an aggressive move, but purely defensive. We are conducting exercises off our shores. The US claims the Black Sea. Moscow must endure or respond. The hypothetical situation when the Black Sea is patrolled by NATO ships, and our military is sitting on the shore and just looking at it, is unacceptable for Moscow,” Zhukov said.

bbabo.Net