Intelligence: Russians to move some warships from Crimea to occupied part of Georgia
The Russians moved some of their warships from Crimea to Novorossiysk, but that port is unable to accommodate the entite Russian fleet so a decision was made to use the occupied part of Georgia.
This was stated in an interview with Apostrof TV by Vadym Skibitsky, the spokesman for the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, Ukrinform reports citing the GUR press service.
"He confirmed that the invaders had moved part of the warships (previously based in Crimea - ed.) have to Novorossiysk. However, a small port there is not capable of hosting all the ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet so the Kremlin decided to use the occupied territory of Georgia for this purpose," the GUR press service said, referring to its spokesman
According to Skibitsky, active work in Okamchire (Abkhazia) is currently underway to this end.
"The Russians have carried out dredging work there and partially reconstructed port infrastructure, in order to set up the base for their warships. But, again, this will be a small base,” the official stressed.
He explained that the Russians felt and realized the existing military threat after a series of strikes and special operations run by Ukraine’s Defense Forces in Crimea.
According to the spokesman, strikes hitting the Russian navy assets and killing their servicemen cause panic moods in Russia. "They have the understanding that the war has come to Crimea," Skibitsky informed.
According to the GUR official, the task set before Ukraine’s Armed Forces regarding Crimea remains unchanged.
"Our task is to completely liberate occupied Crimea. We will not back away from this. We must destroy the occupation grouping of troops stationed there," he said.
Enemy warships remain Ukraine’s priority targets, Skibitsky stressed.
"In order to neutralize Russia’s activity, we need to destroy their warships as top priority. These are the carriers of Kalibr cruise missiles that they launch throughout our territory," the spokesman said.
Skibitsky added that GUR has designated the list of strategic objects in Russia that shall be destroyed.