Black Sea in Russo-Ukrainian War

The Black Sea is a body of salt water located between Ukraine and Turkey that is connected to the Sea of Azov by the Kerch Strait and to the Sea of Marmara by the Bosporus. Along with the Sea of Azov it surrounds the disputed Russian held peninsula of Crimea on all sides save its northern connection to Ukraine. Sebastopol, the home port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and Odessa, Ukraine’s economic hub, third most populous city, and headquarters for the Ukrainian Navy are located on the Black Sea. As such its military value during the Russo-Ukrainian War led to conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces. For Russian forces it could provide a way to transport supplies over water thus shortening supply lines to forces in the southwest of Ukraine, and as a way for Russian warships to approach the Ukrainian coast to assist in landings and bombardment of Ukrainian forces. For Ukrainian forces, control of the sea could help protect their forces from naval assault as well as allow potential naval assaults on Russian territory.

References

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