Recent imagery analysis has identified four barges positioned at the entrance to the Black Sea Fleet facility of Novorossiysk Sea Port. This is an effort to enhance the defences of the port against attacks from Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels (USVs), the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Due to an increased risk of Ukrainian strikes in their traditional homeport of Sevastopol, Novorossiysk port now serves a crucial role in sheltering the Black Sea Fleet’s most valuable assets.
Read more: Intelligence Data Indicate That russia is Strengthening Its Borders in Regions Bordering Ukraine
The former Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov was replaced following Ukrainian successes in the use of USVs against russian targets both at sea and in port. His replacement, Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk, has likely sought to improve the survival chances of russian vessels by adopting further preventative and defensive measures, including narrowing the entrance gap to port facilities.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence Analyzes the Damage Caused to russian Naval Assets and Infrastructure in Sevastopol
