Crimea, occupied by Russian forces since 2014, remains a constant source of military threat to mainland Ukraine. The primary danger stems from ballistic missile launches that are extremely difficult to intercept, says Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, UNIAN reports.
Russia is transforming occupied Ukrainian regions into military bases. Moscow uses them to build combat units, establish fortified positions, and organize logistics hubs. The Ukrainians living in them are often forced into mobilization.
"Ballistic missiles and mobile launchers": The speed challenge
“First and foremost, it is ballistic missiles. These are mobile launch platforms that are employed covertly. The Russian military does everything possible to conceal them and complicate detection,” Pletenchuk explains.
For the Ukrainian Naval Forces, countering this threat remains a top priority, as Russia deliberately uses ballistic systems to conduct strikes that are among the hardest to repel.
He emphasizes that the flight time of ballistic missiles launched from Crimea, particularly those targeting Odesa, is extremely short, significantly limiting reaction time.
Air and sea: Russia expands its arsenal
Pletenchuk also warns that the airspace over the Black Sea continues to pose serious risks, though Ukraine is actively adapting its defenses.
“We are responding to both existing and emerging threats. This includes Russia’s attempts to expand the use of maritime drones,” he says.
As a result, Crimea remains not only an illegally occupied territory, but also an active military launchpad from which Russia sustains pressure on southern Ukraine.
