Ukrainian navy explains why Russian forces rarely use Kalibr missiles

This was stated by Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, during a telethon. 

He noted that the situation in the Black Sea remains largely unchanged. 

"We can say that the situation remains stable. The outings to the sea are quite short, and they are generally not observed. In more than six months, we have two confirmed cases of cruise missile use. Therefore, I am not ready to say that the situation is changing," Pletenchuk said. 

According to him, Russian missile carriers hardly ever go to the sea, because they cannot be used. However, Russia does not stop producing cruise missiles. 

"We can't confirm any military sorties into the sea, there were no sorties into the sea, especially of missile launchers. And, of course, if they could, they would use them. Because they are using all available capabilities, and sea-based platforms for launching cruise missiles are not used for one reason — they are afraid of losing them, they are afraid that they will be destroyed," the navy spokesman said. 

He added that this is why the missile launchers are in the harbor. 

"And the main problem is the lack of cranes that can load Kalibr missiles. However, in order to use them, especially on a massive scale, they need to go to sea. And they need to go to the appropriate areas from which the launches should take place," Pletenchuk added. 

The spokesman also said that the last time Russian forces launched Kalibr from a submarine. 

"These submarines cannot leave the waters, so we can say that they are locked here," he explained. 

• On March 31, the head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, said that Russia used Kh-101 cruise missiles instead of Kalibr because they were more effective. However, during this time, Russia has accumulated Kalibr missiles that are ready for use.