The Russian fleet began chasing Ukrainian “mosquitoes” 100 km from Odessa
A Russian missile boat chased Ukrainian border guards away from drilling platforms in the Black Sea. The Ukrainian side reported the incident, according to a PolitNavigator correspondent.
The Ukrainian border service said that during a scheduled patrol in the area of the Odessa field, they discovered two Russian drilling rigs, “Krym-1” and “Tavrida,” with “signs of industrial activity.” When they tried to get closer, they were met by the Ivanovets missile boat, part of the Black Sea Fleet.
“In response to a request from a Naval Guard ship about the purpose of a Russian military ship’s stay in the exclusive (maritime) economic zone of Ukraine, it stated that it was protecting the economic activities of the Russian Federation in this area and reported that it was restricting its approach to drilling platforms closer than 1 nautical mile,” it says. in the message.
Let us recall that after the reunification of Crimea with Russia, all drilling rigs of the Crimean company Chernomorneftegaz were taken under control by the Russian military. Kyiv considers drilling platforms its property and threatens Russia with an international court.
Ukraine once purchased drilling rigs to increase oil and gas production in the Black Sea, citing the need to “reduce dependence on fuel supplies from Russia.”
The Ukrainian side made several attempts to land its representatives on the platforms of Chernomorneftegaz, but each time the approach of Ukrainian vessels was not allowed by patrol ships of the Russian Navy.
Thus, the Ukrainian Navy command stated that the diving vessel Pochayiv came under fire while attempting to approach the drilling rigs. The Ukrainian Navy press service released photographs showing sniper bullet marks on the ship's conning tower.
In September 2018, Kyiv announced the successful completion of demonstration exercises of the Ukrainian Navy's newest boats near oil rigs . However, shortly afterward, the crews of two boats of this type surrendered while attempting to break through the Kerch Strait.
In one incident, a Ukrainian military transport plane was fired upon over the Black Sea while attempting to approach drilling rigs.
The situation is also interesting because in past years, Ukrainian politicians have repeatedly argued that the Russian Black Sea Fleet is of no combat value and is outdated.
Former representative of the "President of Ukraine in Crimea" Boris Babin also stated that Russia has converted former drilling rigs of the Chornomornaftogaz company into military bases .
“It should be recognized that today the Russian Federation effectively controls the waters of the northern part of the Black Sea with its military force; it has captured all the structures of Chernomorneftegaz in this waters, which Russia turned into appropriate military bases with the deployment of units of the Russian army, reconnaissance assets, and air defense systems on them. defense
In fact, militarization has occurred, and today Russia is increasingly making attempts to completely control shipping in this water area, which can only mean one thing - Russia’s preparation for a full-scale blockade of all Ukrainian ports. Thus, the strangulation of the Ukrainian economy,” Babin said.
Earlier, the Ukrainian newspaper "Mirror Weekly" reported that one of the Russian-controlled towers is located just 100 km from Odessa.
The Russian fleet began chasing Ukrainian "mosquitoes" 100 km from Odessa.