From Moscow’s point of view, its loss of control over much of the Black Sea littoral and ports as a result of the disintegration of the Soviet Union is a serious problem – one that Russian moves, first in Abkhazia and then in Crimea, were intended to help solve. Indeed, even before the Crimean annexation in 2014, Russian commentators talked about depriving Ukraine of its access to the sea by creating a new “Novorossiya” state that would extend to the borders of Moldova and possibly even include Transnistria (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, May 27, 2014; September 2, 2014).
Russian navy preparing to bottle up Ukrainian shipping in Sea of Azov
By Ukrainian Weekly Editor6 Mins Read