Geopolitics

Russia: New Black Sea Naval Base

Sevastopol and Feodosia are vulnerable, Novorossysk is too risky so the options lead to Georgia — and more war

Source: Oryx, open source

In October 2023, the leader of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, announced plans for a new Russian naval base in the Ochamchire district on the Black Sea coast. This news sparked concerns from Georgia, which considers Abkhazia a breakaway region and the base’s construction an illegal encroachment on its sovereignty.

The reason: Vulnerability

The only major port that Russia legally has on the Black Sea is at Novorossysk in Krasnodar Krai. Until recently, this was primarily a commercial port. Russia has been using Sevastopol in Crimea, between 1991 and 2014 under lease from Ukraine, then illegally since 2014.

Source: Deep State Map, author text overlays. Existing naval ports used by Russia, blue box. New port under construction red box, Ochamchire

After sinking the Moskva (flagship of the Black Sea Fleet), Ukraine, with no navy, pushed the Russian Black Sea Fleet well away from its coast and has sunk or damaged fifteen Russian Naval vessels including one Kilo class submarine in dry dock. And let’s not forget the devastating missile strike on the…