Russia Fleet’s ‘Humiliating’ Crimea Retreat Exposes Putin Crimson Traces: Knowledgeable

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has used its Sevastopol Naval Base as the first headquarters for the Black Sea Fleet.

However Dmitry Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, mentioned in a Fb put up earlier this week that Russia had pulled its final Black Sea Fleet warship out of Crimea.

“Bear in mind at the present time,” he wrote.

The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine additionally mentioned in a Telegram put up on Tuesday that there have been now not any Russian naval ships left within the waters.

Ukraine has closely focused Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, utilizing aerial drones, sea drones, and anti-ship missiles.

Earlier this 12 months, Ukraine’s navy claimed to have destroyed a 3rd of the fleet, and in March, the UK’s Ministry of Defence declared the Black Sea Fleet “functionally inactive.”

In response to Dickinson, Russia’s response to the “mounting setbacks” within the Black Sea challenges the Western narrative {that a} “cornered and overwhelmed” President Vladimir Putin may resort to the “most excessive measures,” together with the usage of nuclear weapons.

“In reality, he has responded to the humiliating defeat of the Black Sea Fleet by quietly ordering his remaining warships to retreat,” Dickinson wrote.

Some within the West have voiced issues that Russia may escalate the battle past Ukraine’s borders, and even use nuclear weapons on the battlefield, if its pink traces have been crossed.

It is a concern that has performed a central position in how a lot and how much navy help is being given to Ukraine.

Not too long ago, there have been worries amongst some Ukrainian allies about how Russia may reply to them lifting restrictions on weapons they’ve equipped getting used to hit targets inside Russia itself.

However Dickinson mentioned the overwhelming proof from what has occurred within the Black Sea confirms that “when confronted by resolute opposition, Putin is much extra more likely to again down than escalate.”

“The West’s concern of escalation is Putin’s handiest weapon,” he added. “It permits him to restrict the navy help reaching Kyiv, whereas additionally stopping Ukraine from placing again in opposition to Russia.”

This, he mentioned, “is slowly however certainly setting the stage for inevitable Russian victory in a protracted conflict of attrition.”