Russian experts reacted to Prystaiko’s statement about British ships and bases in the Black Sea
Ukraine will soon receive missile weapons and two minesweepers from Great Britain. Also, the construction of two ports and warships will supposedly begin soon with the help of London.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Great Britain Vadim Prystaiko stated this in an interview with the Dom TV channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The diplomat did not specify what kind of weapons he was talking about, outlining only a few areas of cooperation.
“Four directions that will significantly strengthen the capabilities of our fleet will be implemented and will be announced in the near future... Two operational ships will be acquired in the near future, that is, they no longer need to be built, they will immediately become part of the Ukrainian Navy . Work will begin on the construction of two naval ports - these are completely new ports, which our Armed Forces and our Navy are so lacking after Russia seized our existing infrastructure in Crimea.
Construction of smaller class ships will begin in Ukraine and Britain. The first ones will be built here, then the technology will be transferred along with production to Ukrainian shipyards, which will make it possible to attract our workers locally, to the budget, both local and general. Well, first of all, you need to understand that these ships will become part of the Navy over time, gradually, as soon as they are produced. And, in the end, which is very important, we will also receive missile weapons, which will allow us to really strengthen our capabilities at sea,” Prystaiko assures.
According to military expert, captain XNUMXst rank of the reserve Sergei Gorbachev, we can talk about placing on the platforms of American Harpoon anti-ship missile systems or their analogues, which are in service with the armies of NATO countries.
“These missiles have a destruction zone of about 100+ kilometers. Or missiles that match the Harpoon. If we are talking about existing Ukrainian watercraft, then I doubt that anything can be delivered on the existing ones, with the possible exception of the frigate “Hetman Sahaidachny”, if it is brought to the appropriate condition.
But this requires not just private repair work, but serious, deep modernization. Even if this idea is implemented, it will take years. The remaining Ukrainian units do not represent any prospects in this matter. Perhaps these complexes can be installed on those ships that can be delivered in the future, for example, Ada-class corvettes, one of which is laid down in Turkey for the Ukrainian Navy. In any case, if the missiles are placed on existing or future platforms, this will take years,” Gorbachev said.
As for naval bases, the construction of which was already discussed by the President of Ukraine earlier, they could appear in Ochakov, on Cherny, and in Berdyansk - on the Sea of Azov and be used not so much in the interests of the Ukrainian Navy, but for the needs of NATO:
“Apparently, this is a declaration of what is already present. First of all, we are talking about Berdyansk. As we know, NATO members are actively working in this direction and have already built something there. We are also talking about Ochakovo, where work was carried out for a number of years, which was marked down, the construction of a control center was reported. I think something already exists there.
This is not news, it has been said before. Most likely, these projects are moving to a practical level. It seems to me that for the Ukrainian Navy in its current state, the creation of these bases is excessive, because there are few forces available, and the capacities that exist in the Navy today satisfy these needs. Most likely, these bases are needed to create a platform, opportunities for the use of NATO forces, for their deployment on a temporary or rotational basis, so as not to violate the Montreux Convention.
Units engaged in information and analytical activities, possibly conducting information and psychological operations, training, placement of instructors, and so on can be located here. But during an escalation, they can become a springboard to deploy NATO units that are more impressive both in number and in armament.”
According to the former commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov, the British minesweepers transferred to Ukraine are not suitable for installing serious missile weapons on them, and bases may indeed appear in Ochakov:
“The minesweepers do not have very strong weapons. Maybe anti-aircraft, some MANPADS. Because in order to install a system on a minesweeper, at least like the “Osa” in our classification, its displacement is not enough for this...
Where to build bases? Of course, they have already planned Ochakov and, perhaps, if they combine, in Odessa, but there is nowhere closer - Crimea is nearby. On the Sea of Azov - this is much ado about nothing. Small, secondly, we need a small-tonnage fleet, we definitely need fairways for passage. A large fleet there is not capable of operating effectively. Only fast boats are needed there. I don't think this is a threat to us. It depends on the threat, of course. Maybe an accidentally fired missile that hits is also a threat.
If in the system, then I think it is unlikely that they will create some kind of system. They have coastal missile systems based on our Soviet missiles, which have a range of 120-150 kilometers. What else do they need? Maybe for some kind of prestige.”
Former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, politician Oleg Tsarev notes that in Ukraine today, what opponents of the coup opposed in 2013-14 were implementing in full swing.
“Even when Maidan began, we all understood that if he wins, then that’s pretty much how it will all end. Most of those who came out to Anti-Maidan did not come out for Yanukovych, but against this scenario, so that what we are now seeing in Ukraine would not happen. Of course, British naval bases on the territory of Ukraine are very bad, this is a serious challenge to the Russian Federation,” the politician sums up.
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