Kyiv, Ukraine – As of six o’clock in the morning on the fifth of May, the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have confirmed that an enemy warship equipped with Kalibr-type cruise missiles remains stationed in the Black Sea. The ship is capable of launching up to six missiles in a single attack, maintaining a significant threat to Ukrainian territories and civilian lives.
The Ukrainian Navy reported that no Russian military vessels are currently present in the Sea of Azov. However, the threat from the Mediterranean Sea continues, where three Russian naval ships are currently on duty. One of them is confirmed to be a Kalibr missile carrier with the capacity to launch up to eight missiles.
Naval activity in the Kerch Strait also raises concerns. In the last 24 hours, a total of fifteen vessels moved through this critical waterway under the control or influence of Russia. Seven ships entered the Black Sea, all heading in the direction of the Bosphorus Strait. Eight ships moved toward the Sea of Azov, two of which also came from the Bosphorus. These movements suggest Russia’s sustained maritime logistics operations and continued military mobility in the region.
Russian forces continue to violate the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, signed in 1974, by switching off automatic identification systems (AIS) on their vessels. This deliberate act undermines international maritime safety and increases the risk to commercial and civilian shipping in the region.
Meanwhile, in the United States, president Donald Trump, known for his historically inconsistent stance on global security matters, issued a statement threatening Russia with what he termed “Graham sanctions” if the Kremlin does not reconsider its actions. Despite this sudden declaration, observers remain sceptical of Trump’s long-term commitment to standing up to the Russian dictator.
