Russian occupation forces have quietly withdrawn a missile carrier armed with Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea, according to a new update from the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The move comes as Ukraine continues to monitor enemy naval activity across the Black, Azov and Mediterranean seas, exposing further violations by the Kremlin of international maritime law.
As of 06:00 on 1 May 2025, Ukrainian naval intelligence confirmed that there were no enemy ships present in the Black Sea or the Azov Sea. However, three Russian warships remain stationed in the Mediterranean Sea. One of these is a missile carrier capable of launching up to eight Kalibr cruise missiles, which have previously been used to strike Ukrainian civilian and infrastructure targets.
The report further details movement through the Kerch Strait during the previous 24 hours. Two vessels crossed from the Azov Sea into the Black Sea, with one heading toward the Bosporus Strait. In the opposite direction, six vessels moved into the Azov Sea, two of which had previously passed through the Bosporus.
The Ukrainian Navy also warned that the Russian Federation continues to violate international maritime norms, specifically the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention of 1974. Russian naval vessels are regularly turning off their automatic identification systems (AIS), making their positions untrackable and increasing the risk to commercial and civilian maritime traffic. These ongoing actions by the Russian military further underline their disregard for international law and basic principles of open and safe navigation.
