Comparison of Forces in the Black Sea

The Sverdlov class light cruiser Murmansk, Soroya Island, Norway, July 2008.(user "Andrew", photofile.name)


A long, boring article comparing the naval forces available to Russia and Ukraine and her allies (NATO), including Bulgaria, Rumania and Turkey. Mostly it is a rundown of the current availability of naval forces in the Black Sea, their capabilities and the note that Bulgaria, Turkey and Rumania aren't really constrained by the Montreux Convention limiting tonnage in the Black Sea.

The money paragraph comes at the very end:

It's abundantly clear that in general, the Russian Black Sea Fleet and Groups of Forces in this region is weak. In the big picture, we continue to lose our position in the Black Sea basin. And it would behoove the military-political leadership to immediately pay attention to this weakness.

This is an admission of insecurity and weakness. I think history has shown that a Russia that feels weak and insecure is a dangerous Russia.