Mystery at Sea: Unraveling the Enigma of Russian Warships’ Intensifying Presence near Crimea

A Sudden, Mysterious Flotilla: Russian Presence Intensifies

Whispers of ominous Russian naval activity near Crimea emerged on Sunday, as Ukrainian media source Ukrinform disclosed sightings of nine Russian warships — two missile carriers among them — lurking in combat formation off the Crimean coast. This came not long after March 18th, when Ukraine’s Navy announced the detection of 14 Russian warships in the vicinity, including four missile carriers. The readiness for battle of these vessels, however, remains shrouded in uncertainty.

Operational Command South: Spokesperson’s Revelations

Natalia Humeniuk, an authoritative voice for Ukraine’s Operational Command South (OCS), featured prominently in the Ukrinform report. She divulged that the Russian flotilla maintained a distance of over 100 nautical miles from Ukrainian weaponry, placing it beyond the reach of any potential attacks. Since the onset of this harrowing invasion, Ukrainian forces have claimed the destruction of 18 Russian warships as of February.

Missile Carriers and the Elusive Russian Strategy

Humeniuk further revealed that the nine warships spotted in the Black Sea included two surface missile carriers, possibly armed with a staggering 16 Kalibr missiles. Despite these ominous weapons, she observed that the Russian forces continue to seek a truly effective strategy, as their devastating missile strikes have failed to yield the desired results or embolden their troops on the front lines.

Crimea’s Referendum: A Perennial Controversy

In the distant March of 2014, a contentious referendum transpired in Crimea and Sevastopol, offering citizens the choice between aligning with Russia or reinstating the 1992 Crimean constitution, thereby rendering Crimea a quasi-independent entity within Ukraine. Russia touted impressive voter turnouts of 83% in Crimea and 89% in Sevastopol, with an alleged majority of 95-97% casting their ballots in favor of joining Russia in both regions.

Doubts about the legitimacy of this referendum swirled among the international community, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to vow to reestablish Ukrainian governance over Crimea. The 2014 census paints a picture of a predominantly Russian population in Crimea, with approximately 68% identifying as ethnically Russian and 84% considering Russian their mother tongue.