Looks like there is gonna be a showdown at Poti. Humanitarian Aid verses Russian entrenched roadblocks. From what I have read the US Destroyer has baby food, blankets and basic suplies.
Posted on 08/23/2008 3:46:07 AM PDT by maquiladora
GORI, Georgia (AP) — A top Russian general on Saturday said his country's forces will continue to patrol a main Georgian Black Sea port city even though it lies outside the 'security zones" where Russia claims it has the right to station soldiers on Georgian territory.
The statement by deputy head of the general staff Col.-Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, reported by Russian news agencies, came a day after Russia said it had pulled back forces from Georgia in accordance with a cease-fire agreement that Russia interprets as allowing it a substantial military presence.
On Saturday afternoon, several thousand protesters waving Georgian flags approached the Russian position on the outskirts of the strategic city of Gori. Some soldiers came out of their trenches, but there was no immediate sign of unrest.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...
Looks like there is gonna be a showdown at Poti. Humanitarian Aid verses Russian entrenched roadblocks. From what I have read the US Destroyer has baby food, blankets and basic suplies.
“The situation in the Black Sea is escalating. NATO is continuing to build up its naval presence in the area,” Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn told reporters Saturday.
- http://en.rian.ru/world/20080823/116233036.html
Is it confirmed that the McFaul will dock at Poti? They could go to one of the other Georgian ports.
ISTANBUL (AFP) — One of three US ships carrying relief supplies to Georgia cleared Turkish straits and headed for the Black Sea Friday, where it was due to arrive in the Georgian port of Poti in a few days.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i5Bl34dhKByLX21PVSSwhLqk4zqA
I would recommend Batumi. Nice looking little port from Google Earth. I think however this is about much more then Humanitarian Supplies. NATO/US wants to know if the Russians are really intent on leaving Georgia. Forcing the issue at Poti will tell us.
Seven ? Three NATO ships and three US ships. What is the seventh ?
There are two seperate things going on in the Black Sea, the NATO exercise with these vessels : http://www.seawaves.com/fleets/naval%20fleets/nato/navforlant.htm , plus the added NATO vessels providing aid to Georgia.
COMPOSITION OF THE FORCE as of 21 Aug 08
SPS Blas de Lezo Flagship F 103
ORP Gen K Pulaski 272
USS Taylor FFG 50
HMCS Ville de Quebec FFH 332
FGS Lübeck F 214
The Lubeck and the Pulaski are already there. The Spanish sent the Frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón (F102) apparently instead of (F103). So if one of these ships above is dropped then the total ships will be seven if you add the three from US.
From what I’ve read from various reports, at the moment the Russians seem to have a small presense in Poti & checkpoints on the roads into the city. The Russians have set up base outside the city and plan to bring forces in on patrols when required.
It would be interesting to know if any elements of the Black Sea Fleet are still patrolling the enterance to the port.
LLS
If the ship blows that much smoke, who needs a radar to track it?
If the ship blows that much smoke, who needs a radar to track it?
11th Anti-submarine Ship Brigade
121 Guided Missile Cruiser Moskva Slava 1983
713 ASW Destroyer Kerch Kara 1974
707 ASW Destroyer Ochakov Kara 1973
810 ASW Destroyer Smetlivy Kashin 1966
801 Guided Missile Frigate Ladny Krivak I 1978
808 Guided Missile Frigate Pitlivy Krivak II 1979
197th Amphibious Ship Brigade
152 Landing Ship Nikolay Filchenkov Alligator 1975
148 Landing Ship Orsk Alligator 1968
150 Landing Ship Saratov Alligator 1966
151 Landing Ship Azov Ropucha-II ?
142 Landing Ship Novocherkassk Ropucha-I ?
158 Landing Ship Tsezar Kunikov Ropucha-I ?
156 Landing Ship Yamal Ropucha-I ?
247th Submarine Battalion
554 Attack Submarine Alrosa (ex-B-871) Kilo 1990
572 Attack Submarine B-380 (Under Repair) Tango 1980
400th Antisubmarine Ship Battalion
059 ASW Corvette Alexandrovets ? ?
053 ASW Corvette Povorino ? ?
071 ASW Corvette Suzdalets ? ?
064 ASW Corvette Muromets Grisha III 1983
060 ASW Corvette Vladimirets ? ?
418th Minesweeper Battalion
913 Seagoing Minesweeper Kovrovets Natya ?
911 Seagoing Minesweeper Ivan Golubets Natya ?
912 Seagoing Minesweeper Turbinist Natya 1972
909 Seagoing Minesweeper Vice Admiral Zhukov Natya 1977
166th Novorossiysky Small Missile Boat Battalion
615 Guided Missile Corvette Bora Bora 1988
616 Guided Missile Corvette Samum Bora 1991
620 Guided Missile Corvette Shtil' Nanuchka-III 1976
617 Guided Missile Corvette Mirazh Nanuchka-III 1983
295th Sulinsky Missile Boat Battalion
966 Missile Boat R-44 Matka Mod 1978
955 Missile Boat R-60 Tarantul-III Mod 1985
962 Missile Boat R-71 Tarantul-II Mod 1985
952 Missile Boat R-109 Tarantul-III 1991
953 Missile Boat R-239 Tarantul-III 1991
954 Missile Boat Ivanovetc Tarantul-III 1988
84th Novorossiysk Coastal Defence Brigad
054 Small Antisubmarine Ship Eysk Grisha-III 1987
055 Small Antisubmarine Ship Kasimov Grisha-III 1984
901 Seagoing Minesweeper Zheleznyakov ? 1988
770 Seagoing Minesweeper Valentin Pikul' ? 2001
426 Base Minesweeper Mineralnie Vodi ? 1990
438 Base Minesweeper Leytenant Ilyin ? 1982
I recall a report a few days ago that said the Russians were planning to use elements of the Black Sea Fleet and TU-95’s to keep an eye on NATO vessels in the Black Sea. Haven’t heard anything more recent since.
do I really have to say it???
A top Russian general says his forces will remain in parts of Georgia, and he accuses Tbilisi of preparing a new wave of attacks in South Ossetia.
Russian General Anatoly Nogovitsyn told reporters in Moscow Saturday that his country's forces will continue to patrol the Black Sea port city of Poti, as well as other areas that lie outside a designated security zone.
Nogovitsyn also warned that Russia could increase the size of its force in Georgia if the United States begins to help Georgia rebuild its military.
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