Putin Calls For Greater Readiness Of Sea Patrols As Navy Chief Replaced

Russian President Vladimir Putin is speaking at the Federal Security Service (FSB)'s headquarters. Says that "Kyiv, with support of the West, has turned to terrorist methods." Putin: "All attempts to break into our territory have failed".

Putin: "Russia must increase combat readiness of border guard forces, including at sea."

• Comes as the Russian Navy confirms the appointment of Admiral Alexander Moiseev as its new acting chief. This follows the dismissal of his predecessor Nikolai Yevmenov following the sinking of another vessel in the Black Sea Fleet by Ukrainian suicide drones. Ukraine claimedthat its forces sunk a patrol ship, the Sergei Kotov, in early March.
• While Russian forces continue to make slow and costly advances on the frontlines in eastern Ukraine, in the Black Sea Ukrainian drone and missile strikes have forced the Russian navy into a significant retreat.
• In late 2023, satellite imagery seemed to confirm that some Russian ships had been moved from the Crimean port of Sevastopol to Novorossiysk in the Krasnodar Krai fedral subject in the North Caucuses following a number of Ukrainian strikes.
• Without being able to effectively dominate the Black Sea and Ukraine's lengthy coast, Russia has provedless able to disrupt grain shipmentsfrom Ukraine - an economic lifeline for Kyiv that could prove crucial in maintaining the war effort.