Russia moving military fleet from Crimea to Georgia’s Abkhazia
- 25 October, 01:51
As Ukraine is intensifying military pressure on the Russian-annexed Crimea Peninsula, Russia is seemingly transporting some of its warships to Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region.
Spokesman for the main Ukrainian military intelligence department Vadym Skibitsky reported on Monday that Russia had begun using Ochamchira port in Abkhazia after transporting some of its ships from Crimea where hostilities are underway. The intelligence officer said Russia is threatened by Ukraine’s series of counteroffensive operations in Crimea.
“Russians realize that the war has moved to Crimea. Our goal is the complete liberation of occupied Crimea. We will not retreat in this regard. We must destroy the occupation group there,” the Ukrainian official said.
Skibitsky stressed that the base in Abkhazia will not be very large. Russia has partially reconstructed Ochamchira port in Abkhazia and also deepened the seabed to create a base for their military aviation.”
The decision to set up a Russian naval base in Ochamchir was announced in early October by Abkhazia’s President Aslan Bzhania who said the port was aimed to “improve the defense capabilities of Russia and Abkhazia” and serve the fundamental interests of Russia and Abkhazia.
Secretary of the Security Council of Abkhazia Sergei Shamba, however, said the agreement had been reached a long time ago.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that Ukraine would not refrain from attacking the Russian vessels in Abkhazia, while commenting on Russia’s decision to use the port of Ochamchira in Abkhazia.
