Zelensky: Russian Black Sea fleet no longer secure

The crime provides support for Moscow's efforts on the battlefield in the West, and this peninsula has often been the target of Ukrainian forces since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine last February.

The Russian “Flota is no longer able to operate in the western part of the Black Sea and is gradually withdrawing from the Crimea”, Zelensky claimed on 24 October without offering evidence. “This is a historical achievement”.

Ukraine is wanting to show that the multibillion-dollar weapons it has given Western allies have enabled it to make progress in fighting.

With the war entering yet another winter and possibly last next year, Kiev is pushing Allies to offer more military assets.

Ukrainian forces are still unable to mark any target in the Crime, but are able to approach the peninsula, Zelensky said in the Crimea Platform, which is a diplomatic forum.

The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces have hit three Ukrainian fears in the Black Sea earlier Tuesday.

Russia illegally annexed Crime in 2014.

Also, since the collapse of the grain deal in August, he allowed the safe export of Ukrainian cereals despite the war, Zelensky said a new export corridor to the Black Sea has enabled some 50 ships to pass every day, giving no more details. / REL