Latest on the Naval Situation in the Black Sea

As one Russian blogger puts it - "The Pampers have been delivered"



The announcers question why humanitarian aid has to be delivered by warship. The announcers also become experts in international law by trying somewhat unsuccessfully to explain the provisions of the Montreux Convention. The announcers explain how the Coast Guard vessel has docked in Batumi, Georgia, and how no one really knows what else they are delivering to Georgia. The reporter notes that the Sixth Fleet Command Ship "Mount Whitney" will also dock in Batumi tommorrow (28 Aug) with an unidentified cargo. The reporter notes that the Arleigh Burke class destroyer "McFaul" is in the Black Sea with "a very different cargo". A chart helpfully reminds the viewer that the McFaul is armed with anti-aircraft missiles that have a range of 250km and the latest version of the Tomahawk cruise missile with a range of 2800km. The map makes it clear how far into Russia 2800km is. General Nogovitsyn then reminds people of the provisions of the 1936 Montreux Convention.



Meanwhile the Russians are making Georgian port calls themselves. In the Republic of Abkhazia, recognized only by Russia as an independent country, the Moskva and two small missile boats make a port call in Sukhumi. The commander of the Russian navy base at Novorossiysk Admiral Sergey Menyaylo, on hand to meet the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, helpfully explains that the mission of the task force is a peacekeeping mission. The "President" of Abkhazia makes a visit to the Moskva at the Sukhumi roadstead. The reporter notes that this is the first time that the flag of an "independent Abkhazia" has been raised on a warship, underscoring Russia's recognition of Abkhzia as an independent country.