Putin has been forced to take urgent measures to protect “valuable assets” in the Russian Navy as he was seen to have withdrawn all ships from the Black Sea, a retired US intelligence officer has claimed.
According to intelligence provided by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), there has been no change in the number of Russian vessels in the Mediterranean Sea, sparking questions about where the ships have gone.
Ukraine’s military intelligence report from December 22 placed three of Putin’s ships in the Black Sea and one in the Sea of Azov.
Putin forced to take urgent defensive measures to 'preserve valuable assets' after devastation in Ukraine war
Getty Images/REUTERS
In an update yesterday however, the AFU said: “As of 08:00 on 23.12.2023, there are no enemy ships in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
“In the Mediterranean Sea 4 enemy ships, among them 2 carriers of cruise missiles ‘Kalibr’, the total salvo of up to 16 missiles.”
In a further update today, the situation appears to remain the same as the AFU confirmed there were still no ships in the region as of 9am this morning.
Speaking to GB News, Chuck DeVore, an executive with the Texas Public Policy Foundation and retired US Army intelligence officer, speculated Russia’s seeming retreat from the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov could be to protect Putin’s forces.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Ukraine intelligence shows no ships in Black Sea (top row) or Sea of Azov (middle row) on December 24
AFU
However, while there appears to be no movement, DeVore warns this could be a trap and claims Russia could launch “hit-and-run” raids.
“When asking the question about where the Russian Black Sea fleet has gone, you have to ask, what is its purpose?” DeVore said.
“What is it capable of doing and its contribution of the war effort versus the negative of losing assets to Ukrainian attacks?
“Russian naval assets are capable of doing a few things: launching missile strikes into Ukraine, supporting amphibious operations, and blockading the Ukrainian port of Odessa.
Russian president Vladimir PutinGetty“The first two missions have the additional advantage of spreading out Ukrainian air defences and ground units to protect against Russian attacks.
“But Ukraine, with most of its navy destroyed, has managed, through innovation and surprise, to destroy significant Russian naval assets, including the Moskva, formerly the flagship of the Russian Black Sea fleet.
“Thus, the Russian Black Sea fleet is no longer able to significantly contribute to Russia’s operations in Ukraine.
“So, the fleet has likely been pulled back to smaller ports further away from Ukraine, as a defensive measure to preserve valuable assets.
“That said, elements of the fleet likely retain the capability to make hit-and-run raids, launching cruise missiles into Ukrainian territory.”
Russian warships docked
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According to Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the Southern Ukrainian Defense Forces, the Russian fleet is not as active in the Black and Azov Seas as it was last year.
Humeniuk went on to warn that Russia may be waiting for freezing temperatures to intensify operations.
According to the British Met Office, temperatures could drop to as low as -3C on Sunday. It only needs to be -1.8C to begin the freezing of seawater.