Russia actively uses its armed forces in the Black Sea not only for full-scale invasion, but also for a naval blockade as an element of economic pressure on Ukraine. The aggressor state attacks port infrastructure and civilian cargo ships, impeding freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, which threatens global food security.
This was stated by the permanent representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Tamila Tasheva, at the opening of the Second Conference on Security in the Black Sea of the International Platform for Crimea. “The occupiers are using the territory of the Crimean peninsula to launch missiles at the mainland of Ukraine, including civilian infrastructure. That's why it was important when, among two warrants against Russian military commanders tried by the International Criminal Court earlier, it was against the admiral of the Russian Navy, representing the Russian Black Sea Fleet, also claimed in Crimea,” she said.
Despite the fact that Ukraine does not have its own navy, it managed to stabilize the situation in the Black Sea region. “As a result of Ukraine's efforts, the Russian Black Sea Fleet lost a third of its capacity. In addition, the ports were unblocked and hundreds of ships were already successfully using them. In one year, Ukraine managed to quadruple its capacity for maritime transport," Tasheva added.
“Ukrainian citizens in Crimea are being persecuted for the so-called “discrediting of the Russian armed forces”. In March 2024, 737 illegal cases are already known to be pending in Russian courts. In addition, the occupiers imprison people even for listening to or performing Ukrainian songs, forcing them to publicly apologize for it,” added Tasheva.