After a number of explosions in the annexed Crimea, russian military command has redeployed part of the Black Sea Fleet staff to Novorosiisk and has distributed the aviation from Crimea to airbases located in the territory of russia. This was said by Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, according to Krym.Realii (‘Crimea.Realities’).

“Measures were carried out in the Black Sea Fleet; the personnel who are not directly involved and have auxiliary functions were redeployed from the Headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet to Novorosiisk. We do not rule out that some warships and supply vessels will be transferred from Sevastopol to Novorosiisk. To avoid getting hit. As for the movements, the grouping in Crimea - has not changed on the Crimean peninsula, except for the redeployment of aviation to concentrate them on airfields of the russian federation, air defence has been strengthened with the transfer of additional air defence forces and means,” Vadym Skibitskyi said. 

At the same time, the representative of Ukraine’s military intelligence noted that the russian troops in Crimea began to “take a closer look at such concepts as the terrorist threat, the threat from the air; they constantly practice these issues during exercises.”

According to Vadym Skibitskyi, the russian army continues moving military equipment, ammunition and personnel through Crimea, using the Kerch Bridge for this purpose. The protection of the bridge “has been strengthened since the beginning of the war, primarily due to anti-aircraft defence and a special counterintelligence regime.”