RIA Novosti military observer Nikolay Protopopov said in his article that violations of maritime borders, NATO exercises and support of allies with weapons show that the alliance intends to strengthen its presence in the Black Sea
According to the expert, Russia should expect further provocations from the NATO navies. Earlier, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that British warships “will continue to enter Ukraine’s territorial waters”.
“However, the Kremlin’s reaction to Raab’s words was not long in coming. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow would take all necessary measures in case of uncoordinated crossing of the state border at sea. And he added: the most effective way to avoid such incidents is simply not to violate anything”, – Protopopov recalled.
Sergei Sudakov, a corresponding member of the Academy of Military Sciences, believes that for Britain and other NATO countries it is now important to maintain the conflict with Russia. In his opinion, the North Atlantic Alliance will continue provocations in the Black Sea region and illegal violation of Russian territorial waters will become regular.
“They will be especially active during the so-called state vulnerability period, which is usually about 90 days before significant events in the country. In our case, before the September elections to the State Duma. Now a full-scale mental and information hybrid warfare is underway”, – says Sudakov.
Protopopov notes that the main force in the region is still the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which has transformed in recent years and has become one of the most modern and combat-ready in the Navy. It currently consists of 260 ships, boats, submarines and support vessels and can cope with almost any naval target. In addition, the Black Sea Fleet was the first in the Navy to master the world’s newest and quietest Project 636.3 Varshavyanka diesel submarines.