Russia’s Black Sea Fleet (BSF) is experiencing a series of logistical problems loading missiles to be fired from ships as its operations shift from the port of Sevastopol in Crimea to Novorossiysk on Russia’s southern coast. This is what the British intelligence bulletin writes about the war in Ukraine.
“The BSF’s ability to use its base in Novorossiysk to load cruise missiles onto ships will become a significant factor in the operational effectiveness of the fleet. Traditionally, the BSF loaded cruise missiles into Sevastopol in Crimea. Now this port is increasingly at risk.” “When it comes to long-range Ukrainian fire, Russia will consider Novorossiysk as the best alternative,” the bulletin said. It is noted that these will be new facilities for storing and loading missiles.
“On November 13, the Ukrainian military said that Russia had stopped launching cruise missiles at sea in Novorossiysk due to ‘logistical problems’. Russia,” the bulletin concluded, “must overcome these problems quickly if it wants to use cruise missiles at sea in its campaign of winter attacks against Ukraine.”