Sources in Ukrainian military intelligence report the redeployment of air defence forces, aviation and some Russian “military space forces” personnel in Crimea – deep into the peninsula so they would be closer to the Kerch Bridge.
Some military units and their equipment are also being withdrawn from the western and northern coasts of Crimea (Sevastopol, Dzhankoy). There they are accessible for destruction by the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
First, the enemy transfers the scarce air defence systems deep into the peninsula and to the eastern coast. Thus, exposing the western coast of Crimea to air defence. Leaving Sevastopol, Yevpatoria and other large cities without protection.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence received information about attempts by the military-political command of occupied Crimea to immediately modernize the military airfields “Kirovskoye” in the area of Cape Feodosia (eastern Crimea) and “Bagerovo” in the area of Kerch. That is, to build closed hangars for combat aircraft there.
The Russians have little chance of implementing such a plan quickly. This is a complex technological process. The Bagerovo airfield is generally in a semi-abandoned state. However, the urgent need to re-equip these airports indicates a growing concern among the military-political command of Russia.
Amid a series of effective Ukrainian strikes on Crimea throughout 2024, Russia is seeking to preserve combat aircraft and scarce air defence systems.
This is also an attempt to create an “air defence umbrella” over the Crimean outpost. Both Kirovskoye and Bagerovo are located on the eastern coast – close to the bridge, which remains the main logistical highway connecting the occupation units with the Russian Federation. The enemy is pulling all available forces and means there to protect this facility, leaving Yevpatoriya, Sevastopol and other large cities in the northwestern part of Crimea without air cover.
The security situation on the peninsula is becoming significantly worse for the enemy. However, the Russian occupation authorities are persistently silent about the threats to the civilian population, fearing panic and mass unorganized flight of ordinary citizens.
Russian children are taken to popular Crimean resorts on budget vouchers – particularly, from the Orenburg and Belgorod regions. Preference is given to children of the so-called “SVO”, children with disabilities and those from low-income families.
All this is being done at a time when high-ranking Russian officials and military personnel are massively removing their own families from Crimea.
Part of the headquarters structure of the Russian Black Sea Fleet has also already been transferred to Novorossiysk.
The actual siege of the occupied peninsula is already being publicly discussed in the State Duma of the Russian Federation. On 23 June, the “deputy” from Crimea Mikhail Sheremet admitted that Crimea is ready for a blockade: “Budanov probably forgot that Crimea has survived all types of blockades that have existed over the past ten years…”, the occupation “people’s representative” was “angry”.
In other words, the Russian government and military command are already preparing for a long Crimean siege.
On 22 July 2024, in an interview with Hromadske, Crimea, the official representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Andrey Yusov, said that due to the constant military threat from Ukraine, not only collaborating officials and their families are now fleeing Crimea, but also Russian military personnel.
“Some of the families of Russian occupation officials, and collaborators, have also left Crimea. They are not waiting for any resort season, but are trying to save their lives… Considering all the means that Ukraine uses – land, air, and sea – today we can say that there are no safe places for the occupiers in Crimea,” said a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence…
And what about now, “even stones from the sky,” “dear” Russian occupiers?
Апостроф
