‘What Kalibr launches look like from the “functionally defeated” Russian fleet redeployed to Feodosia. Next stop: Keev”
and what does that mean for the war?
Moving naval assets out of Sevastopol was a rational decision. Most of the Black Sea Fleet are primarily used as missile launchers and the relocation doesn’t change their ability to do that. It reduces high value military targets for NATOUKROPS , which is restricted from attacking into the RF.
Russia avoids escalating into downing the NATO aircraft and drones directing attacks on Crimea at the cost of a limited redeployment The Black Sea fleet will continue supporting SMO and indeed is continuing both patrols and missile launches from its rear bases.
Russia’s alternative option was to clear the airspace within a couple hundred km of Crimea of NATO air, including unmanned drones…..and risking major escalation….the US has acted as if unmanned drones are nearly the same trigger as manned ISR aircraft…. Russia could forcibly defend from the targeting …but at a cost Putin is not willing to take.
By using strategic depth and redeploying Russian missile carriers and ordnance storage into Novo and Feodosia, Nato aircraft will now need to come closer to Crimea for targets. This move….hopefully, less likely.
Yet again, the most powerful man in the world whose decisions affect the escalation of this conflict to WW3 ……is Vladimir Putin.