Posted on 08/17/2005 3:19:29 AM PDT by Our_Man_In_Gough_Island
Once the pride of the Soviet navy, Russia's Black Sea Fleet can still put on an impressive display. But it could soon be fighting for its own survival, the BBC's Helen Fawkes reports from Sevastopol, in Crimea.
Thousands of Ukrainians lined the harbour at Sevastopol to watch the powerful show of strength in a demonstration battle for the public by the fleet, which is based in Crimea.
A fighter jet swooped low over the southern tip of Ukraine to attack a giant warship from the Russian navy.
The vessel returned gunfire and green torpedoes cut through the water towards advancing enemy boats.
Racing across the water on a small speedboat, the fleet commander, Rear Admiral Alexander Tatarinov, inspected the vessels.
"Our sailors and marines must show people what they can do. It makes me really proud when people can see what we are capable of," he said.
But the future of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is in doubt.
'New danger'
Moscow employs more than 25,000 personnel and has almost 200 ships in Crimea. This is one of Russia's biggest naval bases.
The Black Sea Fleet was divided up between Russia and Ukraine following the collapse of the USSR. A bilateral agreement means that Russia is allowed to have a naval base here until 2017.
Terrorists want to cause a lot of problems for both the US and Russia, and so the role of the Russian Black Sea Fleet here in Crimea is very, very important
Igor Mazuk
Some Ukrainian politicians are now saying that it must withdraw after that date.
The headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet are in Sevastopol and all over the city there are signs of its naval heritage.
Back in Soviet times it was considered so top secret that this area was closed to the public. Now pleasure boats take tourists on trips around the bay.
Igor Mazuk proudly points out ships which belong to the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
For 40 years he worked on nuclear submarines.
He was one of the survivors from the K-19 disaster at the height of the Cold War, when a number of submariners died in order to prevent a nuclear accident at sea.
"We face a new danger," the retired colonel says.
"The heart of terrorism is not far from the Crimea. Terrorists want to cause a lot of problems for both the US and Russia, and so the role of the Russian Black Sea Fleet here in Crimea is very, very important."
On shore, Russian pop music is pumped out of the many of the crowded bars.
Crimea used to be part of Russia; it was only in the 1950s that became part of what is now Ukraine. Many people here still feel Russian and speak Russian.
"The Russian Black Sea Fleet belongs in Crimea. It should be able to stay here," says Oleg, a 19-year-old sailor.
But Ukrainian students who want to see an end to the Russian military presence held small protests in Crimea last month.
Less influence
President Viktor Yushchenko also appears unhappy about Ukraine's agreement with Russia. His election following the "Orange Revolution" dramatically altered his country's relationship with Moscow.
Mr Yushchenko favours closer ties with Nato and Europe.
"The Black Sea Fleet's situation has become a problem for the Ukrainian government," says Valentin Badrak, a military analyst in Kiev.
Sevastopol, once a secret base, has strong naval traditions "The new authorities are considering whether there should be a withdrawal of the Russian Black Sea Fleet because the base could stand in the way of Ukraine joining Nato."
Uncertainty over its future is causing concern for the Kremlin. This comes at a time when Russia's military influence in the former Soviet Union is being reduced.
Moscow has recently started to close its bases in Georgia. If Russia had to pull out of Ukraine it would be another humiliating blow.
Publicly, the Kremlin is not considering this as an option, but there are indications that it is looking at alternatives. Mr Yushchenko is so determined to resolve the issue that he wants to settle the matter 12 years before the contract is due to end.
The details of a new agreement could be revealed soon, as the presidents of Ukraine and Russia are expected to meet in the next few weeks.
Dificult times for russia and its once vaunted military. Gotta love it.
Hey you russian navy boys, lose any submarines lately? Like today?
The Russian navy? The Crimea may have always been part of Russian naval lore, but that's not saying much. With the exception of Cold War submarines, Russia has never been a naval power. This is largely due to geography- from the Crimea, a Russian fleet must navigate the Bosporus & Dardanelles, and either steam the length of the Mediterranean past Malta to Gilbralter, or take the Suez Canal through the Red Sea. From St Petersburg, a Russian fleet must cruise the Baltic Sea past Germany and Sweden, round the Jutland to the North Sea, and exit to the Atlantic through the Channel or past Scapa Flow. The other options ivolve either the Trans-Siberian raiload or fleets of Murmansk ice breakers.
The most significant event in Russian naval warfare may very well be a mutiny in the Baltic Sea fleet during WWI.
That may be so, but they are dominant in Black Sea, which can be an important arena at times.
Tushima?
As a former cold war foe of the Soviet Navy and its submarines while a Sonar Tech in the U.S. Navy, I must caution you that gloating over accidents and deaths of good men is poor form. Real warriors are above malicious taunting of enemies, unless the enemy is fanatical and vicious (see muslim).
I agree.
The Russians are our allies in the war on terror, so it is bad form to gloat about their setbacks.
There are men going doing tedious work to keep their families and countrymen safe, and going into harm's way for their country, and respect should be shown to their bravery.
If the liberals in the U.S. had their way, the American Navy would have as many operational problems as the Russian Navy.
Remember the success the U.S. had in rescuing our hostages in Iran 26 years ago? Oh yes, it wasn't.
Remember Jimmy Carter? We're lucky Clinton didn't screw up the American military more than he did. But he had a Republican congress for six years.
Ditto! The average Russian Navyman is just a regular guy trying to get by. The difference and cause for the cold war was their government that was installed by force, not choice. I did not hate the Russian sailor, I pitied them.
On the other, I spent time in the Middle East looking over the barrel of a chain gun for months as primitive animals attacked each other and anything else that moved. The death cultists do not deserve our pity or respect. They need to be stuffed back in the bottle for another 700 years.
Yes, and our Navy is down to what, 300 ships or less? And the Russians have almost 200 in the Black Sea.
From what I understand , the majority of problems within the russian military stems from a lack of funds. It once had nearly everything they could want and it has fallen into disrepair. In short they can't afford to keep it running and still they try. Sort of like chasing your tail.
Good men being used like fodder to try to keep an image.
No, that just makes it all the more true, but it is bad form to gloat over any nation's accidents, especially when you are at peace with them.
The average sailor may well deserve our sympathy, but the weasels that run Russias defense industries need to be put out of the buisness of supplying goodies to the Iranians.
Did you note where I said "...more than he did?"
Chi-coms though having about a billion or two in the military have no lift capeabilities at this point and couldn't get here to defeat us.
Also I'm hoping for another political meltdown someday between the haves and have not in China.
Admiral Togo Heihachiro would disagree with you.
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