Russians move three landing ships from Black Sea to Sea of Azov – Ukrainian Navy spokesman

Yahoo! News ^ | September 16, 2023 | Staff Report

[Timber Rattler]

Following successful Ukrainian attacks on a large landing ship and a submarine in occupied Sevastopol, the Russians have moved three large landing ships from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.

Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the national 24/7 newscast, said that "These processes concerning the liberation of our territory will continue in the future. By the way, it is telling that today the Russian invaders have for some reason moved three large landing ships from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov."

Pletenchuk noted that the large landing ship struck in Sevastopol is beyond repair both because of the specific damage it sustained and because of its "rather venerable age".

He said this large landing ship had taken part in the so-called "Syrian Express", supplying weapons and personnel and solving logistical problems for the Russian forces in Syria.

Pletenchuk also stressed that the destruction of the submarine was "the first such casualty suffered by the Russian Federation when they lost a submarine as a result of hostilities".

[Timber Rattler]

Kinda pointless holding on to Crimea if the Muscovites can no longer safely base their warships there.

[Bookshelf]

This has got to give Communist China pause as it contemplates a sea invasion of Taiwan.

[bert]

The China defense minister is missing........

China is presently in turmoil

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/15/li-shangfu-what-do-we-know-so-far-about-chinas-missing-defence-minister

[JonPreston]

According to Col MacGregor, there have been 5000 UKIE KIAs this past week alone? Why are you Piano Players continuing this slaughter?

[Chad_the_Impaler]

Maybe he and the foreign minister were not fully on board with the secret and imminent Taiwan invasion plans.

[MNDude]

Here is a list in order of nations with most shipping vessels:

1. China
2. Greece
3. Japan
4. Germany
5. Singapore
6. South Korea
7. Taiwan
8. Hong Kong
9. United States
10. Norway
11. Denmark
12. India
13. Italy
14. United Kingdom
15. Turkey
16. Indonesia
17. Canada
18. Malaysia
19. France
20. Spain

Russia does not appear in the top 20. If there were a world war, China is most vulnerable in having their ships destroyed. But USA is its biggest customer, so I see USA as the nation at the most at risk of this type of scenario occurs in the future.

[bert]

That is possible.

On the other hand, I can see a military hell bent on invading Taiwan being throttled down while there are extraordinarily immense problems all over. The missing minister is a 30+ year army veteran

We’ll see

Meanwhile....... there are I believe at last count vessels from 27 national navies patrolling the South and east China sea waters in anticipation of a China attack on Taiwan

[buwaya]

A world war, or just a China war, would involve the near-total stoppage of all commerce to China, no matter what ships carry that trade. A combined close and distant blockade will completely shut down all Chinese ports. Overland trade will be very inadequate as to carrying capacity.

This is going to hurt everyone, but it will go far worse for China.

[Kazan]

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/09/what-the-us-will-learn-and-not-learn-from-the-war-in-ukraine.html#more

The TCC is the Ukrainian administration responsible for drafting conscripts.

Out of every 100 people mobilized in the fall of last year, 10-20 remained, the rest are dead, wounded and disabled. This was stated by the head of the Poltava regional TCC Vitaliy Berezhnoy, speaking yesterday at the 39th session of the Poltava City Council.

[fireman15]

Out of every 100 people mobilized in the fall of last year, 10-20 remained, the rest are dead, wounded and disabled.

Let's just call this “stunning naval attack” using a bunch of expensive British cruise missiles to damage a 40 year old landing craft that carried up to 120 troops and a small diesel sub what it really was... a badly needed diversion. The “counter-offensive has accomplished nothing more than killing off a bunch of hapless Ukrainian men, the vast majority of whom wanted nothing to do with this madness.

Neither of these vessels had much if any strategic value but they were stationary objects on land that were vulnerable to electronically guided cruise missile attack. The ship is so old that calling it “destroyed” is a little like the insurance company calling your beater hatch back “totaled” after you got in a minor fender bender. It is not really destroyed... it just isn't worth repairing. The state of the sub isn't really even known. The damage to the shipyard and loss of workers is probably more significant but it doesn't sound as important.

[tlozo]

Let's just call this “stunning naval attack” using a bunch of expensive British cruise missiles to damage a 40 year old landing craft that carried up to 120 troops

That 40 year old landing ship was only one of three important resupply(drive on-drive off) ships russia has in the Black Sea.

Russian landing ship Minsk

Capacity 10 × main battle tanks and 340 troops or 12 × BTR APC and 340 troops or 3 × main battle tanks, 3 × 2S9 Nona-S SPG, 5 × MT-LB APC, 4 trucks and 313 troops or 500 tons of cargo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_landing_ship_Minsk

[fireman15]

That 40 year old landing ship was only one of three important resupply(drive on-drive off) ships russia has in the Black Sea.

It was out of service at the time it was damaged by fire. The initial reports were that it was “completely destroyed”. Then this was walked back to the damage might be extensive enough that it might not be worth fixing under normal circumstances. Other countries who purchased the same type of ships from Poland have already converted them to civilian use. If the Russians actually do need it... it will probably get fixed.

Quoting from your Wikipedia link, “Minsk was transferred to Sevastopol, traveling through the Dardanelles on 9 February 2022, as part of a fleet of six landing ships brought into the Black Sea”.

“As of September 2023, no major amphibious attacks have been made by either side” If you look at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ropucha-class_landing_ship

You will find that in a previous action, "British media added that the ships each had up to 120 marines on board" The stated capacity is not how they are normally used. You will also note that Russia not only has several others in the area, but approximately 15 in total currently active.

These "landing ships" have not been used in the current conflict. The Minsk was a sitting duck while sitting in dry dock. Ships approaching the end of their useful life need more repairs, just like old cars do. This attack was more symbolic in nature than strategic.

It was meant to divert attention away from the "spring offensive" which has achieved none of the stated goals and has resulted in a huge amount of Ukrainian casualties, deaths, destroyed equipment, and spent ordinance. That is the definition of failure.

Zelensky needed a bright spot to point to when he comes pan handling in Washington DC next week.

[fireman15]

Sorry I forgot to Italicize and correct your inaccurate statement.

That 40 year old landing ship was only one of three important several resupply(drive on-drive off) ships russia has in the Black Sea.

[MarMema]

Thanks. Makes sense.

[gleeaikin]

After reading the article you linked at comment #3, I would say it appears Xi has been slowly eliminating some possible/potential objections to his current plans re Taiwan. Given the even stronger attacks with success by Ukraine on Russia’s Black Sea fleet and command structure in Sevastopol on Sept. 22, I suspect Xi may be having second thoughts, Certainly the advances in drone warfare and its uses against sea craft should be examined by any military planner. China did not fare well centuries ago in a massive attack on Japan. More thinking definitely needed.