In the midst of violent confrontations, Ukraine confirmed that it has spotted nine Russian missile ships sailing in the Black Sea and Mediterranean carrying more than 100 Kalibr missiles.
Russian military ships operating in the Black Sea, including four missile ships carrying 24 Kalibr missiles, according to the Ukrainian Navy, which confirmed its discovery of the vessels. The Ukrainian Navy stated that there are nine hostile ships in the Mediterranean, five of which are equipped with Kalibr missiles, totaling 76 in all.
Additionally, Russia is still in complete control of communications in the Sea of Azov and is keeping two warships there.
The Russian Navy’s primary missile design during the military operation in Ukraine was the Kalibr. The West’s recent perception that Moscow lacks missiles and ammunition is the context in which information about Russian warships carrying Kalibr operating in the Black Sea and Mediterranean is provided.
Russia has been gradually advancing on the Eastern front over the past few months, but due to Ukrainian forces’ pressure to launch a counterattack, Moscow withdrew from a portion of Kherson region. They continue to conduct frequent airstrikes on sites around Ukraine, though.
Russia has frequently launched guided missiles, such as the Kalibr, at the targets of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since October 2022. It will take a long time to repair the more than 50% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure that has so far been disabled.
At one point toward the end of November, Ukrainian authorities confirmed that approximately 80% of the citizens of the capital Kiev were without electricity and water for several hours. Many other communities, including Lviv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, or Kirovohrad, also experienced power, water, and heating outages.
Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia, made it clear last week: “We disable energy facilities in Ukraine because they contribute to the (West) pumping lethal weapons into Ukraine to kill Russians.” The only way to resolve hostilities quickly, according to Lavrov, is through negotiation.
