Russian aviation is the main issue in Ukraine-controlled Black Sea – Navy spokesman

The main problem in the Black Sea is the presence of Russian aircraft in Ukraine-controlled waters, says Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Naval Forces.

He reminded that the Russian Black Sea Fleet remains a legitimate target in the Azov and Black Seas waters. Russian forces know the danger well, so the Ukrainian Navy does not underestimate their possible intentions. They have dispersed their ship fleet, transferred it to their official shores, and are left without logistics.

"There is some success, and we have pushed them away from our shores and the southwestern part of the Black Sea, so we are ensuring the safety of civilian shipping in this way. But of course, there is a danger. And the main problem in the Black Sea remains the presence of Russian aviation there. As for the waters and land, basically, we are on guard here, everything is blocked," Pletenchuk emphasized.

Currently, there are no cruise missile carriers in the Azov-Black Sea region.

"There are two units of ships that are performing some tasks off the coast in the waters around Crimea," Pletenchuk added.

Ukraine's military says its operations had destroyed 15 Russian naval vessels in the Black Sea since the start of the invasion and that 12 other vessels had been damaged.