Russia Halts Naval Ship Repairs in Crimea Due to Ukrainian Threats
The Russian Navy has suspended all naval ship repairs in Crimea, a decision prompted by escalating fears of Ukrainian strikes. Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, disclosed this information earlier this week. The situation has become increasingly dire, leading to a strategic relocation of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, with warships being moved from the Sevastopol naval base to Novorossiysk, another port city situated along the Black Sea.
Ukrainian forces have intensified their attacks, utilizing missiles and drone boats that have inflicted significant damage on Russian naval assets. Some warships have reportedly been sunk or damaged, raising concerns about the operational capabilities of Russia’s naval fleet, including potential impacts on submarines.
Challenges of Ship Repairs for the Russian Navy
Pletenchuk emphasized that the primary repair facilities for the Russian fleet remain in Crimea; however, he stated that the ongoing attacks have rendered these facilities unusable for repairs. During a recent telethon, he remarked, “We’ve proven that using repair bases for their Black Sea fleet is no longer feasible. To repair their ships, they first have to bring them there. And now, no one will be willing to do that.” This statement underscores the precarious situation faced by the Russian Navy.
The spokesperson also noted that while there is a ship repair facility available in Novorossiysk, it lacks the comprehensive capabilities of the facility in Sevastopol. Furthermore, a shipyard located in Zelenodolsk, Tatarstan, approximately 2,200 kilometers away, is only able to handle small missile ships, making it an impractical choice for the Russian Navy due to cost factors. Pletenchuk concluded that these developments clearly indicate that utilizing Crimea for naval repairs is no longer a viable option for Russia.
