Russia starts building naval base in occupied Abkhazia

Russia has started constructing a naval base in occupied Abkhazia; the Russian Federation has already begun infrastructure work in the Ochamchira District and has started transferring warships.

Source: European Pravda; project SOVA

Information that Russia is starting to equip a naval base in Ochamchira appeared on 28 December on the Oko Gora + News and Analytics Telegram channel. Judging by recent images, the Russian Armed Forces are starting dredging operations in the port.

The Telegram channel, in particular, posted pictures showing that as of 26 December, there were about 50 vessels in the port, although a week before, there had been none. The images also show the difference in the bottom depth in the port.

Meanwhile, BBC Newsnight and BBC Verify analysed satellite images showing that dredging and construction work was carried out at Ochamchira port after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Now, the port is the base of patrol ships of the border service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. This structure protects the so-called borders of the self-proclaimed Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The number and type of Russian vessels currently stationed in Ochamchira are unknown. However, some Western and Georgian publications noted that work on deepening the bottom would allow receiving vessels with a displacement of up to 13,000 tonnes.

Representatives of Ukrainian intelligence claim that the primary goal of these works is to turn Ochamchira into a safe harbour for ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Recent attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in occupied Crimea have cost Moscow several warships and a submarine. Kyiv notes that in these conditions, the command of the Black Sea Fleet decided to transfer the vessels remaining afloat to more protected ports.

Background:

• In early October, Aslan Bzhania, the so-called president of unrecognised Abkhazia, said that a new permanent base of the Russian Navy in the Ochamchira District and the corresponding "agreement" with the Russian Federation have already been signed.

• The deputy speaker of the Georgian Parliament then stated that the Parliament of Georgia is not going to judge Russia's intentions.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that due to the actions of the Defence Forces of Ukraine, the Black Sea fleet of the Russian Federation lost control of the north-western part of the Black Sea and partially left Crimea, and Ukraine is ready to "get" Russian ships in other places, including at the base, in occupied territories of Georgia.

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