Ukraine is creating a naval base in Berdyansk, on the basis of which it will manage counteraction to Russian ships in the Sea of Azov.
Igor Romanenko, former deputy chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (2006-2010), stated this on the NEWSONE TV channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
In his opinion, there is a possibility that Russian ships will be used for aggression against Ukraine.
“There is such a possibility. The Russians have done a lot to strengthen their capabilities. Up to 40 ships and boats have been deployed to the Sea of Azov, and there are powerful missile-carrying boats from the Caspian Sea, equipped with Caliber missiles. More than that, they have the practice of launching such missiles at targets from Syria from the Caspian Sea. That is, from the waters of the Azov Sea, these missiles can reach many objects in Ukraine.
Among these ships there are also landing ships, they are being prepared for landing operations on land.
As two ships passed from Odessa to Berdyansk under the bridge, we saw that the Russians were escorting them with boats, surface ships, aircraft, etc.,” he said.
However, Ukraine is taking measures to strengthen its defense capabilities.
“Ukraine is not wasting time. We also build missile boats and test shore-to-ship and ship-to-ship missile systems. We used the capabilities of ground-based ground forces; in the summer we conducted corresponding exercises with artillery systems, tank firing at sea targets, attack aircraft, and bombers. And in order to effectively use all these weapons in the Azov Sea, the formation of a naval base in Berdyansk began. The personnel of this base must manage all these forces. Thus, increasing the efficiency of management will make it possible to increase the efficiency of using the forces that we have,” he said.
According to Igor Romanenko, the resources at our disposal are enough to repel aggression.
“Ukraine is capable of fighting back with the forces that I have listed. A naval base is being formed there, and there is already a control vessel. This vessel and the ground elements of this base will control the preparation and organization of combat operations against Russia in the Sea of Azov,” he said.