Militarization of the Black Sea

In January 2022, the number of Russian warships in the Mediterranean Sea changed dramatically. 6 major landing ships from the Baltic and Northern Fleets joined the "Mediterranean Squadron" of the Russian Federation. A missile cruiser and a missile frigate from the Pacific Fleet are expected to arrive via the Suez Canal. Thus, in February 2022, the Russian naval group in the Mediterranean Sea will have 18 major warships, including 8 missile ships (in December 2021, these figures were 8 and 5 respectively)

According to the Monitoring Group’s data, as of January 25, 2022, in 2022, only one non-Black Sea NATO state warship stayed in the Black Sea. That is, at the time when the Russian military threat to Ukraine has dramatically escalated in January 2022, warships of the non-Black Sea NATO have been absent in the Black Sea for 21 days, obviously increasing the risk of aggression from the sea over the holidays

Russia is continuing to prepare for war. Increased obstruction of traffic in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov has been recorded. The possibility of military action on the Ukrainian coast of the Sea of Azov, in particular airborne assault and amphibious operations, cannot be ruled out. The risk of Russian aggression will increase during the winter holidays and the Winter Olympics in China. The almost continuous presence in the Black Sea of powerful NATO missile ships is an effective deterrent to the aggressor.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies and BlackSeaNews reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea and Azov Sea in November-December, 2021.

The Monitoring Group reports that in November-December 2021, five ships of non-Black Sea NATO countries were present in the Black Sea – four of them from the U.S. Sixth Fleet and one belongs to the French Navy.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in October, 2021.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in September, 2021.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in August, 2021.

What has become increasingly important since 2018 is not only the developments on the occupied peninsula itself but also how Russia has been using Crimea, which has turned from a global problem into a military threat. It should be emphasized that no one can reliably predict what scenarios Russia will enact using the military capabilities created on the occupied peninsula. It is only possible to assert that the Russian Federation has not stopped and will not stop. We can also be certain that both blackmail by war and the actual "hot" war in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov against the coastal regions of Ukraine, as well as Georgia and Moldova, based on Crimea's military power, are completely realistic scenarios, which diplomats and the military should have on the table.

Western think tanks and individual experts began to return to the already forgotten research on Russia. Understandably, former military members and diplomats with experience in the region began to play a rather active role. American think tanks and experts are leaders among those who systematically monitor the situation in the Black Sea region and conduct relevant research. They are followed by some margin by British and German centres and analysts.

The contents of the revised report: The Reality of the Militarization of Crimea / ... The Build-Up of Coastal and Naval Missile Capabilities in Occupied Crimea/ The Crimean Military-Industrial and Service Base of the Occupying Force Grouping/ ... The Restoration of the Crimean Nuclear Infrastructure/ The Size and Composition of the Force Grouping in Crimea/ NATO's Black Sea Dilemma/ Occupied Crimea in the Syrian War/ ... NATO's Naval Presence in the Black Sea in 2014-2021/ Current Naval Trends and Forecasts  

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in July, 2021.

The Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies and BlackSeaNews publishes the database «The Presence of NATO Non-Black Sea States’ Warships in the Black Sea in 2013-2021». Subsequent visits by NATO non-Black Sea states’ ships to the Black Sea will be added to this database.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in June, 2021.

The Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, BlackSeaNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs reports about closure of the various areas of the Black Sea in May, 2021.