Turchinov leads the Ukrainian Naval Forces into the Azov cauldron
Ukraine should be wary of the military plans of its National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov because he nearly destroyed the national army in 2014.
Military expert, captain of the first rank of the reserve Sergei Gorbachev stated this to PolitNavigator, commenting on Turchinov’s promise to create a ship-boat group in the Sea of Azov.
“Mr. Turchinov’s words are political rhetoric. His short tenure as acting President led to a complete loss of control over the Ukrainian armed forces and the resubordination of the Russian Navy. The Ukrainian fleet is now commanded by tanker Voronchenko, because all its striking power is in the land component, and the ships have neither ammunition nor trained personnel. The Priluki missile boat stands without missiles and is waiting to be disposed of,” Gorbachev said.
Ukraine is not able to quickly build new surface ships, the expert believes.
“For all the years of its independence, it was able to build only 6 armored boats of the Gyurza type, which are now in Odessa. These are small displacement boats equipped with a machine gun that operate in the coastal zone. These boats are only enough to demonstrate Ukrainian naval power in the roadstead of Odessa during rare visits there by President Poroshenko,” Gorbachev said.
He believes that there is no need to talk about the balance of forces between Ukraine and Russia in the Sea of Azov.
“To consider them as a serious force capable of countering the surface forces of the Novorossiysk naval base is, to say the least, fantastic. If we imagine the possibility of a military clash, these boats in their capabilities will not stand up to any criticism compared to the forces that Russia is capable of putting up. They are only capable of intercepting Nord-type seiners in a provocative mode, but no more,” Gorbachev said.
He believes that if Ukraine nevertheless decides to transfer the Gyurza boats to Azov, it will have to transport them on trailers to Berdyansk, because “if they decide to pass through the Kerch Strait, this will be a feat of serious national proportions.”
Turchynov leads the Ukrainian Navy into the Azov cauldron.