A new front in the Donbas War in Eastern Ukraine may be opening up in the Sea of Azov,a bay-like body of water at the top of the Black Sea fronted by Ukraine to the west and Russia to the east.And with this development,the United States has taken a step in greater involvement in the conflict by sending a sophisticated reconnaissance aircraft to possibly assist NATO partner Ukraine with intelligence support for the naval base project.
On 22 September 2018,the Russian FSB (KGB successor) announced that ships of the FSB Coast Guard were dispatched to intercept two Ukrainian Navy ships that had entered the "exclusive economic zone" near Russian-annexed Crimea.These intercepted ships were the Ukrainian Navy's A 500 Donbas search&rescue ship and A 830 Korets seagoing tug.They had departed from Odessa,Ukraine on 20 September and were enroute to Mariupol and then Berdyansk,where the new naval base is going up.The two Ukrainian vessels were accompanied by small armoured artillery boats P 177 Kremenchuk and P 178 Lubny,which had been dispatched from the port of Berdyansk to support the Donbas and the Korets.
Meanwhile,at about 1200 hours local time,a US Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft began operations over the Kerch Strait area.The Kerch Strait is the narrow channel between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.Crossing the Strait is an illegal Russian-built bridge connecting the Taman Peninsula to Crimea which has been criticised by Ukraine and NATO.*
One of the FSB armed Coast Guard ships was the patrol ship Ametist (project 22460) which,with two other unidentified FSB patrol ships intercepted the Ukrainian Navy ships when they passed the Crimean city of Sevastopol.One of the FSB Coast Guard ships violated international norms by coming too close to the Ukrainians.Recall that the Ukrainian ships were transiting the Black Sea at this point to reach the Sea of Azov by way of the Kerch Strait.*
The Ukrainian ship Donbas will strengthen the Ukrainian Navy's fleet infrastructure on the Sea of Azov,helping establish the headquarters,barracks,warehouses and other critical facilities which are currently lacking.As well,on 12 September,Colonel General Serhiy Popko,commander,Ukrainian Ground Forces,said Ukraine would augment its ground forces near the Sea of Azov with permanent territorial defence structures,missile and artillery forces,plus Ukrainian Air Force assets,to provide a "reliable coastal defence."*
The RC-135V is considered a premier SIGINT collection platform.The US Air Force has 17 RC-135s,which are converted Boeing airliners that have been operational and upgraded since 1964.The RC-135 has participated in every major conflict since that time,and the UK has acquired its own Rivet Joint aircraft.*
As the Ukrainian ships approached the Kerch Strait,they were met by more than 10 FSB Coast Guard ships and Russian Navy warships,while also being buzzed by low-flying Russian aircraft.Nonetheless,the Ukrainian Navy ships made it safely to their objective.*
The Stratfor Company,a noted consultancy and publisher in the strategic and international studies field,made the following remarks on the Sea of Azov crisis:
The military buildup could lead to growing economic disruption of shipping in and out of the sea.Russia is stronger than Ukraine on the sea,but robust US support for Kiev could alter the situation in the area.
As a result of growing tensions,a flare-up is now entirely possible,especially if the United States brings its weight to bear in the conflict.*
The Boeing Company (BA)
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