Ukraine’s Navy says there is currently no threat of Russian missile strikes from the sea, as Russian warships and submarines have not been seen in the maritime zone for more than a week, Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said on Ukrainian television, according to Ukrinform.
“There have been no deployments for a long period. For more than a week we have not observed Russian combat vessels, and submarines are also absent,” Pletenchuk said.
At the same time, he noted that Russian military aviation remains active over maritime areas. The level of air activity is still high, but it is not linked to preparations for sea-launched attacks.
Fleet typically launches missiles two to three times monthly
The Ukrainian Navy has repeatedly warned that Russia continues to use the Black Sea as a platform for missile strikes when conditions allow, even as its surface fleet activity has declined.
According to earlier statements by Pletenchuk, Russian warships typically go to sea and conduct missile launches around two to three times per month, depending on operational needs and battlefield conditions.
Ukrainian strikes have taken heavy toll on Russian fleet
Ukrainian forces have reportedly destroyed or damaged approximately 33% of Russia's Black Sea Fleet combat vessels since 2022 - around 24 ships - using Neptune missiles, Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and domestically developed naval drones.
The campaign forced Russia to abandon Sevastopol in occupied Crimea and relocate the fleet to Novorossiysk, 600 km from the front line. But even there, Russian vessels face persistent Ukrainian drone attacks.
In December, Ukrainian Sub Sea Baby underwater drones struck a Kilo-class submarine at Novorossiysk - breaching multi-layered port defenses in what experts called an "impossible" feat. Only eight or nine ships in the Black Sea Fleet can launch Kalibr cruise missiles, making each loss significant for Russia's strike capacity.
With Türkiye's closure of the Bosphorus Strait preventing reinforcements, Russia cannot replace lost vessels.
