Key facts
- Pro-Ukrainian partisans claim Russia's Black Sea Fleet command may relocate from Crimea to Novorossiysk.
- The alleged relocation is attributed to intensified Ukrainian strikes on Crimea.
- Atesh, a pro-Ukrainian partisan group, made the claim on June 14.
- The group states that officers are privately arranging family relocations and disposing of property in Crimea.
- Sevastopol has been the Black Sea Fleet's base since before Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
The pro-Ukrainian Atesh partisan group claims that Russia's Black Sea Fleet is developing plans to relocate its command and control units from Sevastopol, Crimea, to Novorossiysk, Russia. This alleged move is reportedly a response to intensified Ukrainian strikes on Crimea, which have reportedly worsened logistical capabilities for occupying forces.
Atesh stated on June 14 that the relocation is due to increasing Ukrainian attacks on the peninsula since May, which have significantly impacted logistics. The group cited military informants indicating that some officers are privately arranging family relocations and selling property they cannot transport, even without official orders. The mood among the fleet's leadership is described as subdued.
"The relocation of command structures is a logical consequence of sustained pressure on the fleet's infrastructure in Crimea. Maintaining headquarters structures on the peninsula is becoming an increasingly costly and risky decision for the occupying forces," Atesh stated. The group suggested that the coming months could be the most challenging for Russian forces in Crimea since the war began.