Russia attempts to protect Black Sea Fleet with barges near Novorossiysk port - UK intelligence

Russia has installed four barges near the entrance to the Novorossiysk seaport to protect its Black Sea Fleet from Ukrainian drone strikes

British intelligence reported the information.

“Recent imagery analysis has identified four barges positioned at the entrance to the Black Sea Fleet facility of Novorossiysk Sea Port. This is an effort to enhance the defences of the port against attacks from Ukrainian Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs),” the statement said.

The department notes that due to the increased risk of Ukrainian strikes, the Novorossiysk port now plays a crucial role in protecting the most valuable assets of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

British intelligence also reminds that former Black Sea Fleet commander Admiral Viktor Sokolov was replaced after Ukrainians successfully used UAVs against Russian targets both at sea and in the port.

“His replacement, Vice Admiral Sergey Pinchuk, has likely sought to improve the survival chances of Russian vessels by adopting further preventative and defensive measures, including narrowing the entrance gap to port facilities,” the department explained.

• On the evening of March 23, Russian authorities claimed their air defense was active in Crimea, where Ukrainian defense forces targeted Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. The attack hit two large amphibious ships, the Yamal and the Azov, along with a military communications center and infrastructure facilities. Reports also indicate damage to transportation networks.
• The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine called the damage to the large amphibious assault ship Yamal in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol critical.
• On March 24, the Ukrainian army attacked the Konstantin Olshansky landing ship, which the Russian occupying forces stole from Ukraine in 2014 during the annexation of Crimea.
• Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that the attacks of Ukrainian drones on Russian warships have been so effective that the entire strategy of the war at sea may be changed.