Russian Navy Is Bailing on Sevastopol, the ‘Permanent’ Home Base of the Black Sea Fleet
Russian Navy Is Bailing on Sevastopol, the ‘Permanent’ Home Base of the Black Sea Fleet
www.kyivpost.com
Russian Navy Is Bailing on Sevastopol, the ‘Permanent’ Home Base of the Black Sea Fleet
There is no point Russia remaining in Ukraine if they can't use Sevastopol. In strategic terms this essentially puts Russia back in 2013. They're now burning money and lives for, what, some beaches tourists can use when they aren't covered in black smoke?
In 2013 Russia still had the naval base in Sevastopol.
I would think it puts Russia back at 1997. That was the year that the Soviet fleet was divided between Russia and Ukraine, and Ukraine leased the Sevastopol naval base to Russian with the lease running to an expiry date in 2017.. I just learned for the first time looking up this exact date that Ukraine told Russia that the Sevastopol lease would NOT be extended beyond 2017 which was the agreed end date. That gives a reason to understand Russia's motivation (not a good excuse) that Russia invaded Crimea in 2014.
Yeah I understand their motivation, that's what I'm saying - their primary reason to be there at all is now dust.
From the very start of the Pootin's rule, Ruscists have been burning money and lives essentially to keep Pootin in power and to restore the empire. Retreating back is unacceptable simply because it undermines Pootin's power and buries imperial dreams.