Local old age home turns out to greet USS John L Hall in Sevastopol, Ukraine

Gist: About a hundred activists turned out to greet the USS John L Hall at the pier in Sevastopol. They carried anti-US and anti-NATO signs and shouted "Yankee go home!". The Ukrainian authorities delayed the Hall's entry into port in hopes the small crowd would disperse, but in vain.

Comment: In contrast to the visits of the USCG Dallas and the USS Mount Whitney back in 2008, right after the Five Day War, the crowds are much smaller and there isn't much discussion of the visit on message boards.

Just a normal port visit to an almost normal foreign port, like anywhere else in the world.

Flashpoint Sevastopol'.

A Russian sailor died of his injuries after being beaten by "hooligans". After an interview with the widow, the announcer reported that the Ukrainian police arrested three construction workers from Western Ukraine, the Western Ukraine being the source of all the ills in Ukraine because of alleged extreme Ukrainian nationalism, as evidenced by this map of what Ukraine should look like from a Russian perspective:



The title of the blog post I pulled this from is "a poisonous territory".


And these are the types of incidents that have the potential to grow out of control. I was immediately reminded, for some reason, of an incident in the mid-80s when a Serb man was beaten to death by his Albanian neighbor in a dispute in Kosovo. Word circulated in the Serb community that the man was horribly mutilated and abused, including having a broken beer bottle stuffed into his rectum. The rest is history...

The next step to look out for: ethnic Russians receiving Russian Federation passports. Start to worry if you see that...

Moskva to Return to Sevastopol' - Again

(Allegedly the Moskva at the Novorossiysk roadstead, 21 Aug 2008, sevastopol.info user Vasyakl)

A source in the Russian Navy General Staff informed RIA Novosti that "The missile cruiser Moskva departed port Novorossiysk today and will arrive around 0900 on Wednesday in Sevastopol'".

Black Sea Fleet: Battles on Shore

From the Russia Today propaganda channel dated 07 September of this year in English. A good overview of the situation on the Crimean Peninsula, with the caveat that it is a Russian propaganda outfit. Great footage of Black Sea Fleet ships and facilities. Of note: the narration denies that the Moskva was at August's Battle of the Black Sea.

Inside the Sevastopol' Anti-American Protests

Stupid Russian tricks:

The crew of the American warship "Dallas" couldn't walk around Sevastopol'. A group of activists from the internet forum sevastopol.info conducted psychological warfare against the NATO sailors.

As a participant in the forum by the nickname LenaDonbass told "Novyy Region", residents of Sevastopol' didn't want to let the crew of the American ship ashore. But the police convinced the picketers to temporarily relent since allegedly the sailors would only go ashore no earlier than five in the evening.

"People left and only then the Americans appeared", Elena said. "When they departed, we formed a human chain to block them. But they charged through like bulls, 30 or 35 guys, in an organized group, but in civilian clothes."

The Americans pressed part of the picket line into a barbed wire fence. Many were scratched bloody.

"Naturally, after this we were very angry, running after them through the city, not allowing them to photograph anything and warning merchants in stores that they were the crew of the Dallas", Elena said...

"When we said that these are the Americans that delivered weapons to Georgia, people reacted very aggressively. Guys went up to them and asked us to leave so they could kick some American ass. But we tried to head off illegal action. There are already a lot of charges against activists by the police", Elena explained.

In her opinion, thanks to the escort by forum activists they succeeded in avoiding a massive confrontation with the civilian population.

"There were a few confrontations, but we tried to not allow serious incidents and tried to not let any repeat themselves. Return to your ship, you aren't welcome here", Elena said.

Some American military guys decided to buy some ice cream on Nakhimov Square. But forum activists asked the girl not to sell them any.

"We went up to her and asked her not to sell the Americans ice cream, that they are killers who brought weapons to Georgia. She thanked us for the warning. Sailors went up to her and we told them that she didn't speak English and wouldn't sell them ice cream. They answered that everyone speaks the language of money. The girl knitted her eyebrows and turned away from them, confusing the Americans."


According to Elena, the forum activists were able to drive two groups of sailors back to the ship.

"The police began to curse us, saying that we were creating a circus. We began to curse them back and that they were carrying out an illegal order and provoking a clash between the peaceful population and the military yet again, only this time, with the American military", Elena emphasized.

She added that the activists were planning to report the actions of the police to the authorities.

"Its not the first time that the police provoked a clash. The Ukrainian military police hasn't stopped criminal activity so it was up to regular people to do it. As far as the Americans go - they protected them, and when nationalists come into town, they protect them, too," - according to indignant forum dwellers.

Remember that the Coast Guard ship Dallas pulled into port on 01 September at the invitation of the Ukrainians while it was on its way from Georgia. The next morning she was gone.

[...]

Next time, I hope an amphib pulls in with a Battalion Landing Team embarked and there is a no curfew liberty call and no shore patrol.

Those folks at sevastopol.info are a supremely classy bunch. Here is what one extremely active (12,000+ posts) member is encouraging other "activists" to send to the Mount Whitney on the occasion of her arrival in Poti:

Fucking niggers!

We hate all of you and we would start killing you in Sevastopol soon!

Kindest regards to your fucking black-ass monkey Kondoleeza!

Fuck you bloodу bastards!

Horrible racism? Check.

Incitement to violence? Check.

Likening us to animals? Check

You stay classy, Russia!

USNS Pathfinder Arrives in Sevastopol'

According to Zvezda News, USNS Pathfinder unexpectedly arrived in Sevastopol' at the invitaton of the Ukrainian Acadamy of Science to conduct joint research on the sea floor. This visit was kept quiet as evidenced by the man on the street interviews in which everyone thinks the American ship being mentioned is the recently departed USCSG Dallas. The reporter notes that the Pathfinder is equiped with all the latest electronic reconaissance gear.

First Look - 02 Sep 2008 (Zvezda News edition)

USNS Pathfinder enters the Black Sea



The latest Ameican Navy Ship "Pathfinder" has already been declared for passage through the Bosphorus and to the shores of Georgia. In a few hours she will enter Black Sea waters. Tomorrow morning she will have moored in one of Georgia's ports. The official version is that it is the latest American humanitarian mission. According to the Navy she has a research role and is credited to the scientific arm of the Navy, but they haven't said what kind of research role "Pathfinder" will have off the coast of Georgia. All that is known is that it carries equipment that could carry out virtually any sort of reconnaissance.

The "Smetlivyy" and the "Dallas" trade places. A re-shuffle at the port.

(Tr Note: I know Рокировка means "to castle" as in the chess move, but re-shuffling is probably better understood to English readers).



The American ship "Dallas" secretly disappeared from Sevastopol' this morning. The American Navy escort ship "Dallas" arrived in Crimean waters on Monday after delivering humanitarian aid to Georgia in Batumi. Ukrainians say that it was going to be a working visit. American sailors gathered for an excursion into town. Meanwhile, they were met by hundreds of locals who didn't want American Coasties spending their money shouted "Yankee Go Home!", not even allowing them to go ashore. So at before dawn they unexpectedly weighed anchor and left port. After that the Russian escort ship "Smetlivyy" pulled into port.

According to RosBusnesKonsalting:

[The "Smetlivyy"] was stationed off the coast of Abkazia for almost a month and a half and participated in the resolution of Georgian-Ossetian and Georgian-Abkhaz conflicts. In part, she controlled the landing of Black Sea Fleet Marines. The "Smetlivyy" entered port with no interference from the Ukrainian Navy.

According to fleet HQ, the fleet flagship "Moskva" is expected back in the near future. Besides her, right now the large landing ships "Azov", "Tsezar' Kunikov", "Yamal" and several auxiliary and salvage ships which were sent to the conflict zone are in Novorossiysk.

The submersible "Mir" discovers gas hydrates ("the fuel of the future" according to this report) on the floor of Lake Baikal, the worlds deepest freshwater lake. Cool pics from a mile down.

USCGS Dallas* in Sevastopol' - The Russkies Bring teh Funny

*or, as some bloggers have taken to call her, "Pampersnosets", a play on the Russian word for "aircraft carrier" or "avianosets".

Because we Americans need to find out the secret to what makes the Russian Navy so crappy. I made a port call on a frigate years ago to Severomorsk. I caught one of the Warrant Officers taking a tour of the ship surreptitiously chipping non-skid off the deck. I mentioned it to the OOD and he said, "Why don't they just ask? We can give them BUCKETS of it."

Point being that I don't think there is much point in being all covert and James Bond because I don't think there is much to learn from a Navy that isn't smart enough to mix some paint and sand together and coat their bare metal decks with it...

Oops. I gave away the secret formula.

Now on to the photo story...



Nothing gave away the spy. Not the sunglasses or the parachute on his back...


On board Dallas, "John" received his final instructions, explosives and poison capsule...


Stiff legged, he walks down the brow and onto land...


walking up to the very lair of the enemy - the Russian Black Sea Fleet base.


He succeeded in covertly bypassing the entrance to the base.


But an alert granny thwarted his secret plan...


...and hit his backpack with a death-dealing flag pole attached to a Communist flag.


While the police calmed down the wicked old bag...

..."John" faded into the crowd to complete his mission.


Bonus addendum to the story: One of the commenters observed, "At least he wasn't a ((black guy))."

You stay classy, Russia!

Meanwhile, our crack team of scuba diving cats prepare to infiltrate the Russian Black Sea fleet base:



as their paratrooper cat-patriots prepare to infiltrate HQ and claw a couple of couches or something:

"Massive" Protests as Dallas Arrives in Sevastopol'

The Russians living in Sevastopol' are not happy. No translation of a little old woman giving us the finger should be necessary...



UPDATE 0840 01 Sep:

I'm guessing liberty has been secured.

More pics:








In a parody of the traditional bread and salt wecoming ceremony, a young lady welcomes Dallas with a cartoonish bomb.

Vesti Gives More Details on The Battle of the Black Sea

Note: The official Russian line being pushed in the video is that it was the Tbilisi that was sunk by the Mirazh the night of the 10th. That is clearly untrue and/or a lie, for whatever reason the Russian government chooses to lie about this seemingly unimportant detail. They even go as far as to show the CNN footage of a burning Tbilisi, cropped to avoid showing that the Tbilisi is burning at the pier!

Whatever.

The translation may vary slightly from the video since I am working off a transcript and not the video.

Russian naval blogger U-96 comments:

Whats up with these "five fast moving Georgian boats" with "powerful anti-ship missiles" when there are only two missile boats in the Georgian order of battle?
Besides that, there weren't any SSMs and the radars weren't working.

In the article the sunken vessel was named as the "Tbilisi", but the internet is lousy with pics of that missile boat burning in Poti.

Same as it ever was...more questions than answers. A shame.

More and more details have come out over the past week concerning the Georgian intrusion into South Ossetia. The author of the program "Special Correspondent" Arkady Mamontov has discovered more detail about the battle that took place on the Black Sea between Russian and Georgian forces.

It happened the night of August 10th. The first sea battle between Russian and Georgian forces has already taken place. It was on the third day after the beginning of the bombardment of a sleeping Tskhinvali ordered by Saakashvili. Not everyone knows the details of this clash.

Early in the morning on that day, a group of Black Sea Fleet ships departed from Novorossiysk port and set course for Sukhumi, Abkhazia. On board two large landing ships (BDKs) were 500 peacekeepers with their equipment. They were being transported to Abkhazia to ensure the security of the local population and deter an attack by the Georgian Army. They were escorted by two ships, including the small missile boat (MRK) "Mirazh".

At the same time five high-speed Georgian boats departed Poti on an intercepting course. Their task - attack and sink our ships. The tactics for this attack were worked out by American specialists: fast-moving small boats, armed with powerful anti-ship missiles suddenly strike the BDKs and depart. Upon a successful attack the result would be shock and awe. Hundreds of dead marines, burning ships and a victorious communique for Saakashvili: "We cut off the intervention" and "The Russian Navy isn't good for anything." But it turned out the other way. "Vesti" has succeeded in getting more information from participants in the clash.

18:39 - Russian radar detected a couple of high-speed surface targets heading on an attack course toward our line of ships.

18:40 - An enemy boat approached at a critical distance. Then the flagship issued a command to the BDK "Tsezar' Kunikov" to open fire with a warning shot. One of the ships launched an anti-aircraft missile which landed between the Georgian ships. But they didn't stop, instead gaining speed and tried to reach the so-called "dead zone", where missiles are useless. And then the MRK "Mirazh" recieved the command to destroy the enemy. The distance to the target was 35km. Preparation to fire, calculations, all of that was done in literally a few minutes. Sea battles always go quickly.

18:41 - The commander of the "Mirazh" gave the command to fire. The Georgian sailors had the advantage of speed while ours had the advantage of reaction time. The first missile was launched at the target. A few seconds later and the second was on its way. The flight time to the Georgian ship "Tbilisi" - a minute and 20 seconds. Range to the enemy - 25km.

The first missile hit the machinery spaces on the "Tbilisi". A second later and the bridge was hit. There was a bright blotch on the radar screen of our ship for 30 seconds which meant complete destruction of the target, accompanied by a large burst of heat energy.

18:50 - The commander of the "Mirazh" gave the command to change position. The ship changed course and made for shore at high speed, completing a turn and again turning on an attack course. The radar showed only four targets. One of them was a Georgian boat, gaining speed and closing our ships. The "Mirazh" opened fire with a salvo from the "Osa" (SA-N-4).

At that time the range was down to 15km. The first missile hit the Georgian boat, which immediately began to smoke, slowed and attempted to exit the line of fire. The rest of the Georgian ships disengaged, sharply turning about. As our sailors noted, this maneuver was executed competently. The "Mirazh" did not pursue the beaten enemy as there was no order to finish them off.

At 19:28 after sweeping the area, the "Mirazh" got back into line and continued to Sukhumi. From the commodore's report: "One target was destroyed out of five, one was damaged and three fled. Missile expendature: two anti-surface missiles, one anti-air missile, no loss of personnel. No damage to friendly ships."

The "Mirazh" is one of the first to return from Causasian shores to her homeport of Sevastopol'. She was greeted with fireworks and cheers, but during her entrance into the bay a Ukrainian ship made a point of passing by. It must be said that it was the exact same type of boat sunk by the "Mirazh" on 10 August. From sources in the Ukrainian Navy HQ, it became known that an order came down from Kiev to put a ship and a tug in the roadstead in order to demonstrate to the Russian sailors their dissatisfaction and also to point out who controls Sevastopol' harbor.

It was noticed that there were people in civilian clothes on board the Ukrainian boat directing the operation. Everything was very unpleasant. And only the festive reception by the people of Sevastopol' kept this from blowing up into something scandalous. The sailors of the "Mirazh" watched how the people of Sevastopol' greeted them. The Russian ship smartly pulled into the bay, fully conscious of their force and power, maneuvered and avoided the Ukrainian boat and tug as if they didn't even notice them.

Protests to Meet Dallas in Sevastopol'

In a live report from Sevastopol', a TV Zvezda correspondent reports that the inhabitants of the "City of Russian Naval Glory" are not too happy with the rumored visit of the USCGS "Dallas" and that protesters will turn out, although it is unclear how many will turn out since tomorrow is "Den' Znaniya", or "Day of Knowledge", the day children return to school and a big holiday in the former Soviet Union.

A Sevastopol' Port Call for "Dallas"

Kiev, 30 August (Novyy Region, Mikhail Ryabov) - The United States Coast Guard ship "Dallas" plans to make a working port visit to Sevastopol' on 01 September at 0800 at the invitation of the Ukrainian government. As opposed to the reception given the Russian training vessel "Perekop", which was refused a worthy mooring spot in the hero-city, the American Coast Guard ship will be offered the best place - a spot in the sea port.

It is remarkable that the US Coast Guard ship "Dallas", which has been in the Black Sea since 24 August, will visit Sevastopol' after completing her "humanitarian" mission in the Georgian port of Batumi. Astonished journalists observing the American activity evoked the secretness of the unloading operation of the "humanitarian" cargo, which took place at night at a specially cordoned off space, guarded by service memebers during the "humanitarian mission". The answer to questions about the cargo was straightforwardly simple - "water for wounded Georgian soldiers". Taking into account how quickly the combat readiness of the Georgian Army is being recovered, one can come to the conclusion that the Americans are not only providing water to the "unfortunate" Georgians, but also something that needs to be supplied in secret and guarded.

The choice of 01 September for inviting the "dear" guests wasn't chosen accidently. Knowing the mood of Crimeans and residents Sevastopol' with regard to NATO, they hope that residents of the city can't turn out expressing Russian glory and that they wont turn out in full strength because of "Knowledge Day", the day when parents send their kids to school and workers have to go to work.

(...)