The UK defence ministry says submarines ‘nearly definitely’ moved as Moscow fears them being hit.
Moscow has doubtless moved its Kilo-class submarines from the Crimean peninsula to southern Russia over fears of them being struck by long-range Ukrainian fireplace, in response to British intelligence.
In a every day briefing on Tuesday, the UK’s defence ministry stated these submarines had “nearly definitely” been moved to Krasnodar Krai in mainland Russia, as a substitute of a naval base at Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula.
“That is extremely doubtless as a result of current change within the native safety risk stage within the face of elevated Ukrainian long-range strike functionality,” the British ministry stated. “Within the final two months, the fleet headquarters and its foremost naval aviation airfield have been attacked.”
Furthermore, the ministry stated that “guaranteeing” the Black Sea Fleet’s Crimea base was one in every of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “motivation for annexing” the peninsula in 2014.
“Base safety has now been straight undermined by Russia’s continued aggression towards Ukraine,” it added.
Newest Defence Intelligence replace on the scenario in Ukraine – 20 September 2022
Discover out extra concerning the UK authorities’s response: https://t.co/gmR2GIiKs1
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/svK8sD2icX
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) September 20, 2022
Moscow considers Crimea as Russian territory, however the peninsula is internationally recognised as a part of Ukraine, which desires it again.
Ukraine’s counteroffensive, which started on September 6, has taken Russia unexpectedly, each by way of pace and the dynamism of advances.
Kyiv forces swept by means of the Kharkiv area this month after bursting by means of the entrance line, sending 1000’s of Russian troops fleeing whereas abandoning their tanks and ammunition.
Russia’s losses over the previous few weeks have shaken a Kremlin public relations marketing campaign that has by no means veered from the road that the seven-month-old “particular army operation” is “going to plan”.
Formally, Russia introduced it was shifting some troops out of the Kharkiv area to regroup elsewhere. However the losses are being brazenly acknowledged on state tv by native commentators calling for escalation.
Putin has promised to proceed, not too long ago warning of a “extra critical” army response to Ukraine’s “acts of terrorism”.