The military successes of Russia during the offensive from occupied Crimea in 2022 require detailed analysis. This was stated by the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, in an interview with the Radio Free Europe project Crimea.Realities. He emphasized that the offensive by Russian forces occurred not only from the territory of Crimea but also from other directions.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Analysis of the Reasons for the Offensive
Neizhpapa noted: “I am responsible for the sea, right? What happened from the enemy’s side from Crimea, why they specifically deployed certain units there, I wouldn’t say, because they advanced from everywhere, from all sides. They reached almost to Kyiv.” He believes that the enemy was preparing for war and struck from various directions, including Chernihiv, Kyiv region, Belarus, Crimea, and Donetsk region.
The Goal of Strengthening the Black Sea Fleet
The Commander of the Ukrainian Navy pointed to the strategic objectives of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which, according to him, at that time included control over the Black and Mediterranean Seas. “Over these years, from 2014 to 2021 inclusive, the enemy concentrated all its attention on the Black Sea Fleet,” he noted, adding that Russian forces were being reinforced with new frigates, Caliber-carrying boats, and submarines.
“Because this is the closest base for the fleet to the Mediterranean Sea, to Syria as well.”
In Neizhpapa’s opinion, the strengthening of the Russian Black Sea Fleet aimed at controlling the Black Sea and further aggression against Ukraine, as well as the ability to project power in the Mediterranean Sea.
The full-scale aggression of Russia against Ukraine has been ongoing since February 24, 2022, starting with attacks on Ukrainian territories from all directions, including Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by Russian armed groups. Over the past three years, Russian troops have carried out airstrikes on critically important military and civilian facilities, destroying infrastructure, including airfields, military units, and residential areas.