09-13-2023, 01:34 PM
I think the attacks are probably on balance more about pain for Russia, but there is definitely some more immediate military value to the strikes. Ukraine just blew up Russia's main dry dock facilities in the Black Sea, and that will probably be difficult to quickly repair. This will mean continued degradation of the Black Sea fleet's operational readiness over time, particularly as Russia can't drive more ships through the Straits of Bosphorus. Their facilities at Novorossiysk are smaller, and the one dry dock space is already repairing a ship previously damaged by Ukraine.
Perhaps more importantly, Russia knows that Sevastopol is not safe from this sort of attack . This could have the effect of drawing even more scarce AD resources away from the frontline, or may mean Russia relocates some of their naval assets to farther Black Sea ports.
Perhaps more importantly, Russia knows that Sevastopol is not safe from this sort of attack . This could have the effect of drawing even more scarce AD resources away from the frontline, or may mean Russia relocates some of their naval assets to farther Black Sea ports.