The Black Sea is becoming the busiest and hottest sea in the world these days. Russia, after having deployed about 100 men on its western border close to Ukraine, is now also moving by sea to tighten Kiev in a deadly grip after the growing resurgence of separatist activists.

Fifteen Russian warships are in the Black Sea after passing the Kerch Strait yesterday, the Navy said. They will take part in military exercises, it is specified. The deployment adds to that of tens of thousands of soldiers along the border with Ukraine. Yesterday, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced the closure to navigation, until October, of some areas of the Black Sea, excluding the Kerch Strait, to allow training maneuvers. Two other Ropucha-class landing ships of the Black Sea Fleet have passed through the Bosphorus today. The Ropucha class is known for its ability to carry tanks.

La Russia, according to sources from the Kremlin staff, will prohibit the passage of foreign ships, military and official, in part of the Black Sea for six months, from 24 April to 31 October. A restriction that clearly goes against all the laws of the sea. The restrictions do not affect cargo ships, they will involve the western side of Crimea, the southern coast of the peninsula from Sevastopol to Hurzuf, and the space off Kerch near the Opuksky nature reserve. 

One of the areas affected by the ban on the passage of foreign military ships is near the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of ​​Azov and is of vital importance for the export of grain and steel from Ukraine. The strait was the scene of the clash between Moscow and Kiev in 2018, when Russia seized three Ukrainian ships for alleged violations of its territorial waters, not recognized as such internationally after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

UK Navy ready to sail to the Black Sea

- United States they wanted to send two ships to the same sea area but for now they decided to postpone so as not to raise the level of tension. But according to the Sundey Times, the British navy is ready to sail, instead, towards the Black Sea. An important signal, not only NATO but also pro-American England is on the line.

British warships will set sail for the Black Sea in May, according to some sources from Her Majesty's navy.

The deployment is intended to show solidarity with Ukraine and show NATO allies that Britain is there.

A destroyer armed with anti-aircraft missiles and an anti-submarine frigate will leave the Royal Navy fleet in the Mediterranean and head across the Bosphorus into the Black Sea, according to the report.

RAF F-35B Lightning stealth jets and Merlin submarine fighter helicopters will be deployed on the fleet's Flag Ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth.

A British ministry spokesman said the government was working closely with Ukraine to monitor the situation and ask Russia to ease its grip at the same time. "The UK and our international allies are firm in their unconditional support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, ”the spokesman said.

The German reaction

Russia constitutes a "concrete and immediate" threat to the security of Europe, said the German Defense Minister. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. "Russian military actions and arms throughout Europe have created real threats ", he added in an interview with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. “Those who denounce the threat are not against Russia. Those who do so face an important political fact and implement active prevention for our countries and for Europe". The deployment of Russian forces on the border with Ukraine "it is not an action that inspires confidence but on the contrary that wants to provoke a reaction ". But Germany and Ukraine, he stressed, “They will not fall into Russian provocation”.

High voltage Black Sea, Russia sends 15 ships, the British Navy ready to sail in May, the US for now "annihilating"