The Caspian Sea has long been a launch area for cruise missiles, but until now it was mostly known about the launch of only Kh-101 AS-23 "Kodiak" and Kh-555 AS-15 Kent air-to-surface cruise missiles from the Tupolev Tu-95 strategic heavy bomber.
But now there is confirmation that the russians are carrying out long-range strikes on Ukraine from the ships of the so-called Caspian Flotilla of the russian Navy with Kalibr cruise missiles too. This is evidenced by a video shot by russian fishermen allegedly in the Caspian Sea, which shows the flight of two such missiles.
Read more: russians Transfer at Least One Kalibr Missile Carrier rom the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea (Satellite Images)
The absence of a turbojet engine under the fuselage, which in the Kalibr missile is located in missiles hull, indicates that we are talking about these sea-based missiles, but not, for example, air based Kh-101 cruise missiles.
It is not known when exactly this video was shot, but the last russian missile attack on Ukraine using Kalibr cruise missiles took place on July 8, when, according to Ukraine’s Air Force Command, the enemy fired 14 such missiles, 12 of which were shot down.
It is worth noting that the flight range of Kalibr cruise missiles is, according to various estimates, from at least 1,500 km to 2,500 km. But even a minimal estimate of the range already enables the enemy to strike from the Caspian Sea over a significant territory of Ukraine.
It should be noted that the russian federation has three small Project 21631 Buyan-M missile ships in the Caspian Flotilla, which is stationed in the Caspian Sea. Each of these ships can launch up to 8 Kalibr missiles. It should be noted, that the main base of the flotilla is the port of Kaspiysk.
In addition, the russian federation has the opportunity to transfer some of its ships from the Black Sea Fleet of the to the Caspian Sea. This is possible thanks to the existing waterways from the Black Sea to the Caspian sea via the Sea of Azov, the Don river, Don-Volga Canal as well as the Volga river.
This route can be used by ships of project 21631 Buyan-M of the Black Sea Fleet of the russian Navy without the need to dismantle the equipment.
At the same time, for small missile ships of the Karakurt class corvette (Project 22800) with a draft greater than that of the Buyan-M, passing through the channel is most likely possible only after removing some equipment.
Read more: Baltic Fleet of russia Prepares to Accept Three New Kalibr Missile Carriers, the Possibility of Transfer to the Black Sea
