russia has experienced a significant deterioration in logistics following yet another damage to the Crimean Bridge as a result of an attack, likely involving the use of maritime kamikaze drones. According to russian reports, traffic has now been restored on the bridge in a reverse mode, but with limited capacity, allowing only light vehicles to pass through. Meanwhile, the main automobile traffic is being directed along the coast of the Azov Sea.
Therefore, the russian federation can organize a crossing through the Kerch Strait using large landing ships. Moreover, landing ships of the russian Navy have already begun fulfilling this role since July 11th, due to massive traffic jams and queues on the Crimean Bridge.
Read more: Largest russian Landing Ship Suspended From Military Service to Become a Ferry Near the Crimean Bridge
The Russian Ministry of Defense officially announced that the Kaliningrad and the Olenegorskiy Gorniak landing ships (large landing ship in Soviet classification) are performing this function. Both ships belong to Project 775 and were transferred to the Black Sea from the Baltic and Northern Fleets of the russian federation prior to the invasion.
At the beginning of 2022, it was reported that the russians had concentrated 11 large landing ships, which they planned to use for a military landing operation.
However, after the destruction of the Saratov landing ship in Berdiansk, there were only ten remaining. This raises the question: are such large landing ships a legitimate target for destruction, even if the Kremlin declares their use solely for transporting civilians and vehicles?
A military vessel of the enemy is considered a legitimate military target in any case, even in reference to international law.
All available russian landing ships in the Black Sea are assigned to the russian Navy. They bear the appropriate external markings of military vessels and are under the command of russian Navy officers.
Moreover, these ships are armed with artillery systems, anti-aircraft artillery, and the A-215 multiple rocket launch system, designed for military tasks and combat missions. Therefore, they are absolutely legitimate targets for destruction, regardless of the intended use by the russians.
If the Kremlin plans to use military ships for humanitarian purposes, such as a hospital ship, it should appropriately mark and identify them, The party using the ship converted in this way must give advance notice of this, indicating the route and details of the ship. In addition, such a ship can have exceptionally only weapons for self-defense on board.
However, the russian landing ships in the Black Sea do not meet these requrements as well as they are not designated for humanitarian purposes. That is why they are considered legitimate military targets for destruction.
It is important to note that a hospital ship loses its immunity in case of any violations. For example, the German transport (formerly a liner) MV Wilhelm Gustloff, which was carrying approximately 9,000 refugees, was recognized as a legitimate military target when it was sunk in 1945 by the Soviet submarine S-13 under the command of Marinesko.
This transport was operating in a combat zone. It was transporting not only civilians but also around a thousand German military personnel. It served as a floating base for German submarines and was escorted by a combat ship.
If the russians indeed intend to evacuate civilians from the temporarily occupied Crimea, they could use the Enisey hospital ship.
Moreover, no one is preventing people from leaving the peninsula on foot. In all other cases, any large landing ship of the russian federation is absolutely a legitimate target for destruction.
As Defense Express reported, the occupiers were increasing security measures for their missile-carrying ships.
Read more: New Tsiklon Missile Warship Commissioned to the russian Black Sea Fleet
