Satellite images show part of Russian fleet leaving deployment locations in occupied Sevastopol
Photo: Russian Defense Ministry
The Russian Black Sea Fleet took out 14 warships from Sevastopol Bay in occupied Crimea.
After analyzing the satellite images dated October 4, OSINT analyst MT Anderson reported on X, former Twitter, that the ships moved from their deployment locations to Novorossiysk, Russia.
The analysts also determined that Russia redeployed six large amphibious ships, "Admiral Essen" and "Admiral Makarov" frigates, and three "Varshavyanka" submarines. The Russians also relocated the "Vasily Bykov" patrol ship and two small "Buyan-M" missile ships.
According to OSINT analysts, four amphibious ships and one submarine are still stationed in Sevastopol. Presumably, some of them are currently being repaired.
Another part of the Black Sea Fleet remains in remote ports in the east of Crimea, as far as possible from Ukrainian weapons. The analysts say the city of Feodosia is home to another large amphibious ship, minesweepers, and missile boats.
What caused the Russian Black Sea Fleet to "regroup"
This number of Russian ships fleeing to the port of Novorossiysk is most likely caused by a constant threat of Ukrainian missile strikes and naval drone attacks in the west of the occupied peninsula.
Over several months, the Ukrainian forces have attacked Russian warships and fleet headquarters. One of the latest attacks was in mid-September when Special Operations Forces struck the "Minsk" landing ship and the "Rostov-na-Donu" submarine.
On September 3, the Ukrainian Navy reported that they destroyed a Russian "Tunets" boat and released a video showing the attack in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.
Ukrainian security officers also conducted a special operation in Novorossiysk Bay, damaging the "Olenegorsky Gornyak" amphibious assault ship.
In early August, the Ukrainian Security Service undertook an operation to blow up a large Russian oil tanker SIG, which was transporting fuel to the Russian occupiers.
Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian forces have destroyed 18 Russian ships and boats, including the "Moskva" flagship cruiser.
The Russian naval command planned the "regrouping" in remote Black Sea ports to protect the fleet from the Ukrainian threat. The decision means the presence of the Russian fleet in the northwestern part of the Black Sea decreases.
The Russians also relocated almost all carriers of the Kalibr cruise missiles that they used to strike Ukrainian cities to Novorossiysk. It means the time between the launch of missiles from a remote water area and the moment of the strike will significantly increase. It will allow allied reconnaissance jets to detect the threats more quickly and notify Ukrainian air defense systems.
The Russian fleet also failed to paralyze the work of Ukrainian ships and ports. The threat of a potential Russian naval amphibious operation at the Ukrainian port of Odesa is becoming increasingly illusory.
