Russia previously said it will consider any ships heading to these ports as potentially military cargo vessels involved in the war. Ukrainian officials claim they have intercepted radio transmissions of Russian forces warning civilian ships in the Black Sea against sailing to Ukrainian ports.Ī Russian military blogger also shared an audio recording purportedly of a Russian warship giving this warning to a civilian vessel. Rattled by attacks, short of supplies, and somewhat isolated, Russian forces in Crimea could become less capable." Augmented by other weapons, Ukrainian forces could hinder Russian forces from using it as a safe haven from which to attack the mainland or threaten Black Sea shipping. They continued: "USVs could enable Ukrainian forces to blockade Crimea. The technology can sink warships and destroy maritime infrastructure, they said. However, they suggested Ukraine could use explosive uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to neutralise Russian military power in Crimea. The neck of land connecting Ukraine with Crimea is "very slim" and "susceptible to being water logged", she said.Ī Ukrainian offensive here would need significant support from both air and naval assets, she said.Įxperts from the RAND Corporation also acknowledged taking Crimea back militarily would be "difficult". Intelligence expert Louise Jones told Forces News that recapturing Crimea is more similar to taking an island than to other land. These will make it more tricky for Ukraine to break through. It also points out that satellite images have indicated a major Russian build-up of defensive fortifications on the peninsula. "Only two roads connect the Ukrainian mainland with Crimea one crosses a narrow isthmus and the other could easily be cut by knocking out a vulnerable bridge," it says. The Crimean peninsula remains Vladimir Putin's biggest foreign policy trophy, and so he will be unlikely to give it up without a fierce fight.Īn article by experts from the Council on Foreign Relations describes taking back Crimea as an "ambitious undertaking". Taking back the Black Sea peninsula is part of Ukraine's plan for its counteroffensive - but what would it take?
As we reported a short while ago, a top Ukrainian defence official has said Kyiv's soldiers will enter Crimea "soon".
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