Black Sea Fleet will have a submarine division in Crimea

Russia's Black Sea Fleet will obtain several new diesel electric submarines in the nearest years, said deputy chief of Navy Main HQ Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev in the interview to Echo Moskvyradio. 

"We're going to establish a submarine division at Black Sea Fleet; it will be capable to react adequately on potential threats. Same prospects are topical for Baltic Fleet", said the admiral. 

According to him, Russia's naval strategy provides that nuclear-powered submarines to be stationed only at Northern and Pacific fleets. 

Recall previous statement of BSF Commander Vice Admiral Vladimir Korolev saying the fleet is being reinforced with new arms in line with approved plans.

New attack aircrafts Su-24M to join Black Sea Fleet

New attack aircrafts Su-24M will be soon commissioned into Black Sea Fleet (BSF); however, the fleet lacks experienced pilots because they have been dismissed in result of the military "reform". BSF has no simulators either. 

First-class pilots were "dismissed due to age limits and staff reductions", said BSF Naval Aviation Commander Alexander Otroschenko in the interview to the fleet's newspaper Flag Rodiny. Even 2 years ago BSF naval aviation had "large number" of pilots, underlined the newspaper. 

"At present, 80% pilots of attack aviation are not higher than third-class specialists", said the general having added that young pilots were being retrained. 

"After retraining course they will start mastering new upgraded attack aircrafts Su-24M which soon will come to airbase Gvardeiskoe", assured Otroschenko. 

Meanwhile, BSF has no simulators for aircrew training, writes the newspaper. The general hopes that an advanced simulator recently designed in Russia "will be put into service soon". 

Having assumed the office in Oct 2010, Alexander Otroschenko noted imperfect qualification of BSF naval pilots and rapid aging of aircraft park, reports New Region. 

"Currently, BSF naval aviation has no experienced pilots, navigators and snipers", stated the general.

Black Sea Fleet to make Ukraine alter laws

Russia and Ukraine will discuss re-armament process of Russian Black Sea Fleet, said Ukrainian defense minister Mikhail Yezhel at recent briefing, reports RBK. 

He pointed out that Ukrainian legislation and bilateral agreements do not provide any tools for re-armament of Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF). 

According to the minister, neither agreement of 1996 nor Ukrainian laws mention possibility of BSF re-armament. "Those documents say nothing about re-armament. So, this is a subject of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia", said Yezhel. 

Recall that the session of security subcommittee of Russian-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission will be held on March 25 in Kiev; agenda includes about 10 matters regarding military cooperation of Russia and Ukraine. In particular, the countries are about to sign a new agreement on BSF re-armament. According to actual documents, re-armament of Russian Black Sea Fleet is possible only by Ukraine's approbation.

Black Sea Fleet contradicts rumors of its warships dispatched to Libya

Official representative of Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) confutes reports of some media sources that Russian warships were heading for Libya with marine units on board. 

Such task was not assigned to the fleet, reported RIA Novosti referring to Capt 1 rank Vyacheslav Trukhachev, BSF Commander's press secretary. 

Some online news agencies reported on Thursday referring to a source in Russian diplomatic circles that two BSF large landing ships Caesar Kunikov andYamal were planned to head for Libya. The sources also reported that each landing ship was supposed to carry at least 150 marines on board. 

According to Trukhachev, large landing ship Caesar Kunikov is being prepared for dock repairs, so will not take the sea for nearest several weeks; large landing ship Yamal is going to participate in international exercise BLACKSEAFOR to be held in the Black Sea. 

"Obviously, the news agencies used unverified information; by the way, diplomatic agencies have said nothing about Russia's strategic interests off Libya", concluded Trukhachev.

Black Sea Fleet aviation turns 90

Black Sea Fleet (BSF) aviation will celebrate 90th anniversary on March 3. 

Jubilee meeting will be held on March 3, 2011 in Sevastopol at the memorial "To courage and heroism of Black Sea Fleet aviators"; attendants of the meeting will commemorate Black Sea Fleet pilots lost in wars defending the native land. Afterwards, it is planned to conduct a solemn meeting and a concert associated with the jubilee in BSF Officers' Club.

Russian defense ministry is about to purchase 100 warships till 2020, reports RIA Novosti referring to deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin. According to him, procurement of ships will be carried out under State Arms Program 2011-2020 and will imply 20 submarines, 35 corvettes, and 15 frigates. Popovkin did not specify what kind of other 30 ships the Navy intends to buy. 

State Arms Program 2011-2020 has not been approved yet; its parameters are still uncertain. As was previously reported, defense ministry would receive RUR 19 trillions under this program. According to Russian Navy Main HQ, part of these funds will be appropriated for renovation of Black Sea Fleet (BSF). The fleet would get 18 new surface ships and submarines within the nearest ten years, including Project 636 Varshavyanka diesel submarines, Project 11356 and Project 22350 frigates, and Project 11711 large landing ships. 

It was also officially declared about plans to lay down Project 21631 small-size missile ship, and Project 20380 corvette. It should be kept in mind that the state arms program also provides funds for import of two French Mistral class assault landing ships and construction of two same ships in Russia. Also, it was reported in mid-2010 about plans to build airfoil ships and 4 aircraft carriers for Russian Navy, although later this information was confuted.

Russian and Ukrainian fleets commanders took a favorable view of cooperation

Meeting on the Motherland Defenders' Day, commanders of Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) and Ukrainian Navy positively estimated their cooperation, reported New Sevastopol. 

BSF Commander Vice Admiral Vladimir Korolev considers that military cooperation between the two countries "dynamically develops". 

"This fact is proved by successful training (I insist, successful) of Ukrainian submariners at Russian sub and bilateral agreement to resume practical phase of annual Russian-Ukrainian naval exercise Fairway of Peace. Joint drills, exercises, crew interaction, and finally, protection of Russian and Ukrainian sea borders are main trends of our cooperative activity", said Korolev. 

"We have invaluable experience of international cooperation. Joint exercise Fairway of Peace successfully held in 2010 and to be also conducted this year does verify this assertion", said Ukrainian Navy Deputy Commander Sergei Yeliseyev.

Black Sea Fleet should expand presence in Crimea – politician

Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) must expand its presence in Crimea; particularly, reinforcing naval base in Feodosiya and reconstructing base at Lake Donuzlav, said Andrei Kozenko, leader of Crimean organization "Russian Unity". 

According to him, enlargement of Black Sea Fleet's presence in Crimea would contribute to security and state budget revenue. 

"Opinion of inefficiency and weakness of Russia's Black Sea Fleet expressed by the leader of anticonstitutional grouping "Majlis" Mustafa Dzhemilev is just a subjective belief of some politicians trying to show their wishes as reality. It is impossible to find an example in history when Russian Black Sea Fleet failed to repress an enemy's aggression and maintain stability in the Black Sea. Black Sea Fleet's participation in the South Ossetian conflict in Aug 2008 proved its full combat worthiness", said Kozenko. 

"Moreover, the Russian fleet is a guarantee of peace and stability in Crimea, and if it leaves our peninsula for some reason, we would feel the influence of southern neighbors at once. Thus, we must not only allow BSF to stay in Crimea for ever but widely greet its enlargement, for example in Feodosiya and at west coast near Lake Donuzlav. We should not forget about economic side of the issue either, since it is thousands of workplaces for Crimea residents and huge state budget revenue", said the Crimean politician. 

"Today, in the holiday of millions of Crimean people – the Day of Soviet Army and Navy – one can state for sure that Black Sea Fleet has always been in Crimea and will stay here for ages regardless of conjunctural wishes of some execrators", concluded the representative of "Russian Unity".

Crimean Tatars: Russian fleet poses no threat; it is much weaker than Turkish Navy

Russian Black Sea Fleet deployed in Crimea constitutes not a military but mostly a political threat, said the leader of Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev. 

"Russian fleet poses no threat; it is several times weaker than Turkish Navy. However, Black Sea Fleet has 23,000 military servicemen in Crimea, they're Russians... When you think of how many people have dual citizenship in Crimea, it becomes apparent that Russians even don't need to enter troops from abroad; they've already here, at our territory. Besides, Russian fleet countenances separatists in Crimea. So, we're talking about the threat to Ukraine's integrity", said Dzhemilev in the interview to Kyiv Post. 

"Sure, over 75 % of Russian-speaking Crimeans see their future as a part of Russia. More than 80% of them are post-war settlers and their descendants. They have relatives in Russia. We understand their desire to return back to historical homeland. We also wanted to return home, took baggage and came here. But they want back to Russia along with Crimea", said the leader of Crimean Tatars. 

"We see our future in Ukraine, but as autonomy. I mean we stand for the previous way of things, just like it was before deportation. In 1921 when the Crimean autonomy was established, official languages were Tatar and Russian. In 1944 our people were deported and our republic was liquidated. What we want is to return status of official language and provide our representation in parliament, at least on proportional basis... They say 'why you ask for such rights, you're only 12% in Crimea'. However, in Karelia only 9% Karelians, but it is called Republic of Karelia. Another example – Bashkiria with 30% Bashkirs. Our nation was depopulated and deported, but this do not diminish our rights", said Dzhemilev. 

"Turks are our cognate nation. Visiting Turkey, I asked them for help in construction of schools. There are only 15 schools in Crimea where children can learn native language. Their number should be 10 times larger", he said. 

"Generally, Crimean population is decreasing. But Tatars' annual population growth is 300-350 persons. Of course, it is explained by the fact that the rest residents of Crimea are elderly people. It has always been a zone of pensioners and officials spending their last days at villas. That's why we cannot say that Tatar population rapidly grows", emphasized Dzhemilev.

BSF mariners honored memory of compatriots died abroad

Servicemen of Black Sea Fleet (BSF) in Sevastopol marked the 22nd anniversary of withdrawal Soviet expeditionary troops from Afghanistan, now officially called the Remembrance Day of Russians lost while overseas missions. 

A memorial service to all compatriots died in Afghanistan and other local conflicts abroad was held in the morning in St. Vladimir Cathedral which is burial place of Russian admirals. Along with city officials and veterans, the divine service was attended by servicemen of Black Sea Fleet and Ukrainian Navy. 

Participants of the memorial events laid wreaths at "Memorial to Sevastopol Heroic Defense 1941-1942" and then honored memory of Sevastopol people who died in Afghanistan. Black Sea Fleet Deputy Commander Vice Admiral Sergei Menyailo laid a wreath on behalf of the fleet. 

Later on, a solemn meeting and a concert were held in BSF Officers' Club. 

In the evening, Afghanistan veterans, Russian and Ukrainian mariners took part in all-Ukrainian action "Light the Candle of Memory" related to this memorable date.

Russian-Ukrainian naval exercise Fairway of Peace 2011 was discussed in Sevastopol

Planning conference on the Russian-Ukrainian joint exercise Fairway of Peace 2011 was held on Feb 17 at Black Sea Fleet (BSF) training center in accordance with the plan of international cooperation between Russian and Ukrainian defense ministries. 

Working groups of Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) and Ukrainian Navy participated in the conference. They were headed respectively by Director of BSF Training Dept Capt 1 rank Alexander Chesnokov and acting Ukrainian Navy Deputy Commander for combat training Capt 1 rank Denis Berezovsky. 

In accordance with agreements reached during the previous meeting (Jan 29), the parties provisionally agreed upon terms of the exercise – second half of May 2011. During the discussion participants approved concept and process of the exercise; fully covered training goals, structure of headquarters, and quantity of ships; analyzed reconnaissance of planned site for landing operation near BSF coastal range in Kazachya Bay; coordinated actions of landing ships, marine units, aircrews of aircrafts and helicopters in the course of the exercise. 

The parties agreed to conduct the final conference in mid-Apr 2011. By this time they will have to finish the plan and complete the package of documents regarding this bilateral exercise. Scenario of the current exercise is international peacekeeping operation in crisis region. 

Joint Russian-Ukrainian naval exercise Fairway of Peace was firstly conducted in 1997, then under mutual agreement it was held biannually (1999, 2001, and 2003). After a long break, the exercise was resumed in 2010 as an interactive headquarters exercise. Then Russian and Ukrainian defense ministers decided to conduct the Fairway of Peace exercise every year with participation of active warships of Russia's Black Sea Fleet and Ukrainian Navy.

Black Sea Fleet crews pass qualification tests

Since the beginning of training year crews of Black Sea Fleet (BSF) have been passing qualification tests; this process is an important element in every ship's preparation for combat tasks. Nineteen warships have successfully passed elements of daily activities while staying at base; three crews have proved capability to perform tasks at sea. 

In accordance with appropriate procedures, all ship units passed qualification tests under supervision of brigade commanders and various headquarters. 

BSF Commander Vice Admiral Vladimir Korolev personally checked qualification tests held by crews of the fleet's flagship Guard missile cruiser Moskva and air-cushion missile ship Samum. 

Officers of Navy Main HQ under auspices of Navy Deputy Commander Admiral Alexander Tatarinov inspected Guard missile cruiser Moskva, air-cushion missile ship Samum, large landing ship Yamal, and small ASW ship Aleksandrovets. 

All drawbacks and merits revealed during the inspection were the subject of discussion at the command conference with participation of the fleet's high-ranking officers. 

After passing tests while staying at base, the crew integration activities will be continued at sea; servicemen will improve skills in execution of appropriate tasks by an individual ship.