“We will stop the bulk carriers that will go to Ukrainian ports and turn them back”
Russia’s withdrawal from the “grain deal” after the attack of Ukrainian drones on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol Bay created a new situation in the Black Sea. Ukraine, Turkey and the UN “figured it out for three” and said they would do without Russia. How this situation will affect the actions of the ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, “MK” explained military expert captain 1st rank in reserve Vladimir Gundarov.
Photo: Global Look Press
Earlier, Russian warships provided grain carriers with safe passage along the maritime humanitarian corridor to Ukrainian ports on their way back. Now, it must be understood that Russian navy sailors are no longer involved in this.
It turns out that now they have to turn a blind eye to how weapons, ammunition, as well as surface and underwater drones will be transported on ships following grain to Ukrainian ports, which can be easily sent directly from these barges to attack Russian warships?
It is known that Turkey, Ukraine and the UN have agreed on October 31 the departure of 16 grain ships from Ukrainian ports. At the same time, Russian representatives in the Joint Coordination Center were told that these decisions taken without Russia’s participation did not oblige it to anything. And what if, for example, one of the ships, following the fairway of the humanitarian corridor, blows up on a Ukrainian mine? Who will be blamed for this? Russia again?
Answering the question of how this new situation may turn out for Russia and whether any new military provocations from Ukraine should be expected, military expert Vladimir Gundarov said:
– Now we allow those ships that have already left the Ukrainian ports or were still under loading to be withdrawn through the humanitarian passage. They are coming out freely, and this is where the transportation should stop, since we are temporarily withdrawing from this grain deal. And this means that in the future we will simply stop those bulk carriers that will go to Ukrainian ports and turn them back.
– This can be done either by the coast guard of the FSB border service, or the Black Sea Fleet.
– Ukraine said yesterday that it did not participate in this deal. They say that Kiev has not signed any documents and has nothing to do with it at all. The deal was signed by Russia, Turkey and the UN, but there are no signatures on the documents on the grain deal.
So Turkey and Ukraine can agree on anything as much as they want, but our ships will simply block shipping in the Black Sea.
– But we have announced the temporary suspension of the grain deal? This can only mean that we no longer ensure the safety of bulk carriers that will go for grain. But if we do not provide security, then this implies that the ships are in potential danger. Therefore, our coast guard ships or warships will have to approach them and say: guys, sorry, the road is dangerous further, come back.
– In accordance with the new Ship’s Charter, if the requirements of the commander of the ship are not met, he has the right to use weapons. This charter was signed by Vladimir Putin on July 31 of this year.
This is called a warning shooting. Coast Guard border ships have the right to do this. This is how they detain all fishermen who violate the rules of fishing in our waters. And a cargo ship is not an island, if you fire an AK–100 automatic ship cannon along its path or in front of its nose, then its captain will understand: it’s better not to go further. And if he doesn’t understand, then our military has the right to open fire to defeat.
– What does Turkey have to do with it? These actions are not the subject of her competence. We don’t go anywhere through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. The ship that we stopped will not be in the territorial waters of Turkey.
– In neutral waters, on the approaches to the maritime border of Ukraine. In the same way, he will have to return, for example, from the port of Odessa, since possible fairways for bulk carriers do not pass everywhere – the depth does not allow. So the captain of such a cargo ship will think a hundred times whether it makes sense to conflict here.
That’s why we used to keep Snake Island at the time? Yes, because he controlled the exit of sea vessels from Odessa, Nikolaev and Ochakov. Now we can also locate ships of the Black Sea Fleet near the island of Zmeiny.
– Yes, they will shoot at us. We will also shoot. There is nothing to be done – fighting is underway. The area has been declared closed due to the conduct of hostilities – that’s it! Moreover, we have no right to let civilian vessels into this area. We simply have to return them back. This is about the same situation as in the case when some area of the Black Sea is blocked during training or combat missile firing.