Head of the Naval Collegium: Our Fleet Has Not Been Defeated in the Black Sea
Russian Presidential Aide and Chairman of the Russian Naval Collegium Nikolai Patrushev told Kommersant that he had recently reviewed the combat duty status of the Black Sea Fleet troops and forces and was convinced of its combat capability. According to him, despite attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces, the Russian fleet's positions in the Black Sea have not been weakened.
"Our fleet has not been defeated in the Black Sea. And this is despite the fact that Kyiv's aggressive actions in this region are being coordinated by NATO specialists," Nikolai Patrushev said when asked by Kommersant whether Western media reports of damage to the Black Sea Fleet as a result of Ukrainian air strikes were true.
Nikolai Patrushev emphasized that Russia "firmly maintains its status as one of the leading naval powers," one of whose tasks is nuclear deterrence. As an example, the presidential aide cited the under-ice passage in the Arctic of the nuclear submarines Emperor Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk in September. "Our opponents should know that Russia's naval nuclear shield is always on guard for our country. Other components, forces and means of our fleet are also being developed," Mr. Patrushev noted.
