This morning, November 2, the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) reported the discovery of a Russian ship with cruise missiles of the "Kalibr" type in the waters of the Black Sea. This return of missile carriers to the region comes after a more than two-week hiatus — Russian missile ships were last seen here on October 17. According to the military, the ship is capable of carrying up to four cruise missiles, creating additional threats to the coastal regions of Ukraine.
At the moment, only one Russian ship with missiles is present in the Black Sea, while the situation in the Sea of Azov is stable - there are no hostile groups there. Meanwhile, according to the Ukrainian military, another Russian missile-carrying ship with Kalibry was spotted in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is capable of carrying up to eight missiles at once.
This activation of Russian ships with missiles on board indicates an increase in the military presence of the Russian Federation in strategically important regions, in particular in the Black and Mediterranean seas. At the same time, this tactic on the part of the Russian Federation complicates the situation for civilian shipping, as Russian warships continue to violate the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) of 1974. According to the Navy of Ukraine, Russian ships turn off automatic identification systems (AIS), which greatly complicates the control of their movement and creates danger for other vessels.
The Ukrainian military notes that the Russian Federation's violation of international norms and the use of cruise missiles on combat duty creates additional threats to the security not only of Ukraine, but also of the entire region. The resumption of rotation of Russian ships with "Calibers" emphasizes the need for readiness of Ukrainian forces to respond to new challenges from the sea.
