"The new Ukrainian fleet is utopia": what is behind the threat of Kiev to create a naval base on the Sea of ​​Azov

The new Ukrainian naval base in the Sea of ​​Azov will force Moscow to "make concessions and sit down at the negotiating table". The Ukrainian Lieutenant-General Vasily Bogdan told about this publication "Observer".

According to him, Russia is allegedly engaged in strengthening its military capabilities in the Azov water area and it is impossible to exclude the possibility of a Russian landing on the Ukrainian coast near Mariupol or Berdyansk. Bogdan said that for this reason, measures are being taken to strengthen the military on the Ukrainian coast of the Sea of ​​Azov.

"Ukraine will be able to create an appropriate structure in the form of this military and naval base, which will be a serious opponent of Russia in the Azov Sea," Bogdan said.

In the opinion of Lieutenant-General, such a measure will lead to the fact that Moscow "will have to make concessions and sit down at the negotiating table". However, Bogdan agreed that the power of the Russian fleet exceeds the forces of Ukraine, but Ukraine, he is sure, will help Western partners.

Recall, on September 16 on the page in the Facebook official representation of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine there was information that in the Sea of ​​Azov until 2018 the naval base of Ukraine will be created. It was specified that two artillery armored vessels of the Ukrainian Navy had already been launched in Berdyansk.

Shortly before that, the State Border Service of Ukraine announced that 270 marine special forces will be sent to the area of ​​the Sea of ​​Azov and the Black Sea, which will serve in the divisions of the water areas.

Moreover, Ukraine is not the first time announcing the escalation of military presence on the Azov Sea. So, in August the command of the Ukrainian Navy already announced its intention to increase the grouping of ships, the number of marines and artillery in the area of ​​the Azov water area. At the same time, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said that Kiev was going to strengthen its military presence in the Sea of ​​Azov because of "attempts by Russia to actually start the military and economic blockade of the Azov coast of Ukraine."

"Odious threats"

Kiev is trying to extradite Russia's absolutely justified measures in the waters of the Sea of ​​Azov for the aggression of Moscow, which were adopted in connection with "frankly terrorist acts against Russian seamen" from Ukraine, told the RT State Council deputy Vladislav Ganjar.

"Ukraine has resorted to openly terrorist acts against our sailors ... .and in general, the odious threats from Ukraine, like the explosion of the Crimean bridge, have led to the fact that today Russia's security measures in the Azov Sea are strengthened. This causes considerable irritation on the part of the Ukrainian side, encouraging it to make such statements, "the parliamentarian said.

Ganjara is convinced that the statements of the Ukrainian authorities on the establishment of a military base are unfounded, and Western partners are unlikely to want to help them in further aggravating the conflict with Russia.

"Ukraine has no combat readiness. All that they have left from the time of the Soviet Union and is in a deplorable state. And to create a new fleet is a utopia, empty words. Moreover, the West is unlikely to contribute to the construction of the base. If such a base was necessary for him (the West - RT ), it would have been built long ago, "he said.

"Kiev can do nothing by itself"

President of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov, in an interview with RT also commented on the statement of Ukrainian Lieutenant-General Vasily Bogdan about the establishment of the Ukrainian naval base in the Azov Sea.

"Ukrainian officials are pursuing a policy of breaking relations with Russia and transferring the two countries into hostile relations, so Lieutenant-General (Vasily Bogdan - RT ) makes similar statements. This is a duty phrase. As for confidence in the West's help ... The West does not so much help, as it orders. Without the permission of the West, Kiev can not do anything by itself, so the decision about the naval base is a decision of the West, "he said.

Professor of the Chair of Comparative Political Science at the Faculty of Humanitarian and Social Sciences of the Peoples Friendship University of Russia, Yuri Piter, called the statement of the Ukrainian lieutenant general "serious and decisive", but with nothing backed up.

"Do Ukraine have those naval vessels that are necessary to solve this problem, are there any sailors who are able to ensure the functioning of such a fleet, is there any money to keep such a base? This is an attempt of the Ukrainian military to draw attention to itself and to Ukraine, "the political scientist said.

In his opinion, although the US is helping Ukraine improve the APU, they will not be able to supply Kiev with a set of vessels for the base in the Azov Sea.

"Americans help Ukraine improve the armed forces, supply some weapons, but they can not supply them with a set of vessels for the base, which could control the Kerch Strait and the Sea of ​​Azov, it's very expensive, what they promise is a few old boats" - added Mail.