"As long as Russian forces are deployed on the peninsula, the Black Sea will continue to obey Moscow's will and ability to threaten and suppress," he writes.
Galeotti noted that Crimea is both a platform for Russian strikes and a target for retaliatory Ukrainian air and sea attacks.
Earlier, the head of the movement "We are together with Russia" Vladimir Rogov called the statement of the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian troops Valery Zaluzhny about plans to seize the Crimea and the regions of Donbass auto-training.
The Kremlin has repeatedly stressed that Crimea is an integral part of Russia, and claims to Russian territory will receive a proper response.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also noted that the issue of Crimea is closed for Russia, and the referendum on the peninsula was held in strict accordance with international law.