Ukraine has announced preparations for a full-scale military confrontation with Russia at sea

Ukraine is strengthening its military fleet and preparing for a full-scale military confrontation with Russia at sea. This was stated by commander of the naval forces of Ukraine Oleksiy Neizhpapa in an interview with the Odessa newspaper “Dumskaya”.

“We are preparing for a full-scale military confrontation, realizing that if it happens, unfortunately, it will be a lot of losses – both our soldiers and the civilian population. Many people do not understand this now, although the country has been at war for the seventh year (in the Donbass – approx. RDN), “he said, commenting on the issue of “returning the Crimea” to Ukraine.

Neizhpapa said that since 2014, the number of the Navy has increased from two thousand to more than ten thousand people, and that Kiev has a good military “coastal component”. In particular, the commander pointed to the Neptune missile systems that can be used from the mainland of Ukraine, and the range of missiles that can reach the “approaches to Sevastopol”.

“My task is to make sure that we can take the main blow not on the shore, but at sea. We must make sure that the enemy is on their own coast, knowing that we are strong. To do so, so we were not expecting when it will come to us,” said Neiipp.

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He called the beginning of restoration of the North Crimean channel by the Russian Federation a possible signal to aggravate the situation. “As soon as we understand that the channel will begin to be restored in Crimea…, it will be a sure signal that the Russian Federation is preparing for a full-scale confrontation. And then we will have to respond to challenges, ” he added.

In March 2014, after the political crisis and coup in Ukraine, the Supreme Council of Crimea and the Sevastopol city Council adopted declarations of independence of the Republic. On March 16, a referendum was held in Crimea and Sevastopol, which resulted in 96.77% of residents of the Republic and 95.6% of residents of Sevastopol voting for reunification with Russia. On March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed agreements on the admission of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia. Ukraine refused to recognize the results of the will of the Crimean people.