The Europeans are actively monitoring the movement of Russian troops on land and at sea. According to representatives of the Swedish fleet, at the moment a group of six Russian large landing ships (BDK) of the Northern and Baltic fleets headed for the North Sea. “MK” asked the expert what could be behind the movement of ships.
Photos of the ships appeared in social networks. It is reported that a group of six large landing ships of the Northern and Baltic fleets (Pyotr Morgunov, Olenegorsky miner, George the Pobedonosets, Minsk, Korolev, Kaliningrad) are heading to the North Sea.
As the head of the joint operations department of the Swedish armed forces, Lieutenant-General Michael Claesson, reported, Russian large landing ships are heavily loaded, and no one knows their destination. There are already suggestions that Russian ships are heading to the Black Sea region, where, of course, according to the Europeans, they will certainly threaten Ukraine.
Where these ships are actually heading and what kind of cargo can be on board – this was told to MK by a military expert captain 1st rank in the reserve Vladimir Gundarov.
“There is not enough information yet to unequivocally answer such questions,” he explained. — It is reported that the ships have now entered the North Sea. Where they will go from there – either across the English Channel to the south, or around the Scandinavian Peninsula to the north – is still unclear. As soon as we know about this, the intent of the operation will become clear. The fact remains only that in itself this is a unique operation, non-standard and uncharacteristic of the usual situation in the North Sea and in the whole region.
According to the expert, if we assume that the BDK will go south across the English Channel, for example, to the Syrian port of Tartus, where our fleet has a base, then the ships will not be able to reach it without refueling. To refuel six BDKs, somewhere at the crossing, you must have at least two more tankers. But we are not talking about them. So, talking about the southern direction is debatable.
– So far, only one thing can be said, – Gundarov is sure, – there is some very serious transfer of forces and means. In addition, observers note that the landing ships are fully loaded – their waterlines are below the water level. What can it say? The fact that the shortest way – and this is the shortest way – some kind of weapons are being transferred. And these are not tanks, and certainly not personnel. For example, I do not rule out that we are talking about missile weapons.
According to Gundarov, in the light of Russia’s recent talks with the US and NATO, this could serve as confirmation that Russia can back up its proposals for security guarantees with actions if they are rejected by the West.
“It is quite likely,” the expert believes, “that very soon in some area we will be able to see Russian missile systems, which NATO members are so afraid of. At the same time, Russia is demonstrating that it is capable of transferring large forces not only by land and air, but also by sea.
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