On the morning of May 4, only one Russian warship carrying Kalibr cruise missiles remained in the Black Sea, down from three the previous day, according to the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. While the reduction might appear to signal a tactical shift, Ukraine’s Navy has warned that the threat of missile strikes from the sea remains present and dangerous.
The remaining missile carrier stationed in the Black Sea is capable of launching up to six Kalibr cruise missiles. These precision weapons have been routinely used by Russian forces to target critical infrastructure and civilian areas in Ukraine. Though the numbers have been reduced, the potential for attacks remains unchanged.
Elsewhere, in the Mediterranean Sea, three Russian warships are currently stationed, one of which is also a missile carrier with a potential salvo of up to eight Kalibr cruise missiles. The Navy confirmed that no enemy vessels are currently present in the Sea of Azov.
In a continued show of defiance against international maritime regulations, the Kremlin’s naval forces persist in violating the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) by disabling their automatic identification systems. This move makes it difficult to monitor ship movements and represents a significant safety and security concern for other vessels navigating the region.
Over the past twenty four hours, thirteen Russian-linked ships passed through the Kerch Strait en route to the Black Sea, with seven continuing toward the Bosporus. Meanwhile, three vessels moved from the Bosporus into the Sea of Azov.
