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February 11, Russia officially informed Ukraine it cancels blocking the southern part of the Sea of Azov. Initially, it should be closed for shipping for the period from February 13 to February 19 under the pretext of naval exercises. However, the situation in the Black Sea remains as difficult as it was. Turkey, which belongs to the Black Sea region, is extremely worried about it. Vasily Bodnar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Turkey, said this on the air of the Informday program of the Dom TV channel.
“The information I received indicates that the Russians have only lifted the blockade of most of the Sea of Azov territory. While in the Black Sea, everything remains as it was. In fact, the passage of commercial ships from the ports of Odesa, Kherson, and Mykolaiv is blocked. The situation has not been resolved yet,” the Ambassador said.
The Ambassador clarified that a significant part of the large military landing ships and cruisers of the Russian fleet would pass through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.
“In fact, we are witnessing a concentration of Russian forces. And those ships, which came earlier, have not left as well. Of course, Turkey is worried about this. Today, this issue would be discussed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs level. Our preliminary concern has already been conveyed to the Turkish authorities, and we expect their reaction in the coming days,” the Ambassador concluded.
According to the experts’ estimates, economic losses of the monthly blockade of Ukrainian ports can range from $ 25 million to $ 170 million a day.
February 10, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has voiced a strong protest against Russia’s steps on blocking part of the Black and Azov Seas and the Kerch Strait under the pretext of conducting naval exercises. According to the media reports, on February 9, Russia transferred six large landing ships of the Northern and Baltic Fleets to the Black Sea. Russian Defense Ministry assured the ships would take part in joint exercises. Even in 2014, during the operation to annex Crimea to the Black Sea, there were a maximum of four additional landing ships.
In December, the Ukrainian Navy said that about 70% of the Azov Sea was blocked due to Russian military exercises.
In April 2021, during another aggravation of Russian-Ukrainian relations, when Russia was also drawing troops to Ukraine’s borders, landing ships limited themselves to landing in the annexed Crimea. It lasted until October 2021.
Earlier today, NATO is considering the long-term deployment of battlegroups, such as those already in place in the Baltic States and Poland, in the Black Sea region, including Romania.
Read also: 60% of Europeans believe NATO should come to Ukraine’s defence if Russia invades, – poll
