The Russian military department is seeking ways to preserve its fleet in the Black Sea. Ship operations are restricted, and defense against drones has been reinforced.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom on Twitter, Ukraine's success in conducting an ongoing asymmetric maritime strike campaign led to the visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to the command post of the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) in Crimea on March 17, 2024.
Shoigu received updated information about Ukrainian operations and discussed the effectiveness of the naval forces. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, he announced new measures for BSF units to reduce the threat from unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles.
According to British intelligence, special attention was paid to conducting daily drills to ensure readiness to combat drones, allowing ship crews to quickly repel attacks day and night. Shoigu also ordered unspecified facilities to be equipped with additional large-caliber weapons to enhance their protection.
"The Russian Navy, in all likelihood, has resorted to limiting its operations in the eastern part of the Black Sea as its losses increase and the perception of the threat grows. As Ukraine continues to seek opportunities to strike at a distance, the Russian Ministry of Defense has been forced to intensify efforts to preserve its fleet in the Black Sea," the UK Ministry of Defense said.
