Why Russia uses Sea of Azov to launch Kalibr missiles – military insight

Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesman for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army South, explained on Espreso.

"Today, the ships in the Sea of Azov can't operate in the Black Sea. There are ships on duty in the Black Sea, but they are submarines, typically armed with Kalibr missiles. These submarines are on combat duty because Russia is now afraid to use surface ships for this role. So, they use the Sea of Azov to train crews and launch Kalibr missiles, which they've done for two consecutive nights," he said.

Bratchuk explained Russia's logistics and the operation of Kalibr missiles.

"They have built up a stockpile of Kalibr missiles, using very few recently. Despite production issues, they are still making Kalibr missiles. Ukrainian Defense Forces, especially intelligence units, are working to disrupt these logistics to prevent the enemy from equipping Kalibrs, like in Sevastopol. The enemy can also attack from the sea or air over the Azov or Black Sea with tactical aviation. They attempt daily strikes with tactical aircraft in the Odesa region, including yesterday. However, the missile's combat effectiveness has diminished, though air raids remain a threat," he said.

• On Sunday night, June 23, Russian forces launched Kalibr missiles at Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenders destroyed two of them.