Russia's Black Sea fleet armed at new base to avoid Ukrainian attacks, MOD says

The Russian fleet is reloading its vessels with cruise missiles in the Black Sea, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has revealed.

The Black Sea Fleet (BSF) is believed to be using the base in Novorossiysk to arm its vessels and increase their operational effectiveness.

In the latest defence update on X, the MOD said how the facility is being used as an alternative site since their reloading base in Crimea was threatened by Ukraine.

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"Russia's Black Sea Fleet's (BSF) ability to use its Novorossiysk base to reload vessels with cruise missiles is likely to become a significant factor in the fleet's operational effectiveness," the MOD said.

"Traditionally, BSF has reloaded cruise missiles at Sevastopol in Crimea. With that facility increasingly held at risk by Ukrainian long-range strikes, Russia will highly likely see Novorossiysk as the best alternative site.

"However, relocating and reloading the missiles would require new delivery, storage, handling and loading processes."

It was claimed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces earlier this month that Russia had paused the firing of maritime cruise missiles.

The pause is believed to have occurred due to 'logistical problems' at Novorossiysk.

The MOD also believe that Russia will seek to overcome these issues in time for maritime cruise missiles to be included in any winter campaign of strikes against Ukraine.