Crossing The Turkish Strait, Six Landing Ships Of The Russian Navy On Their Way To The Black Sea

Kapal perang Rusia BDK-016 Georgy Pobedonosets (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru/Russian Ministry of Defense)

JAKARTA - Six Russian Navy warships landing ships are heading to the Black Sea from the Mediterranean for naval exercises, the Interfax news agency quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as saying on Tuesday, in what it said was a movement of military resources that had previously planned.

Russia announced last month that its navy would stage a series of exercises involving its entire fleet in January and February, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, the latest show of force in a wave of military activity during the standoff with the West over Ukraine.

The six ships were scheduled to pass through the Turkish strait towards the Black Sea on Tuesday and Wednesday, Turkish sources said, citing Reuters on February 8.

The ships, consisting of the BDK-130 Korolev, BDK-127 Minsk, and BDK-102 Kaliningrad, will sail on the Bosphorus on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the ships 117 Pyotr Morgunov, BDK-016 Georgy Pobedonosets, and BDK-012 Olenegorsky Gornyak are expected to pass in the same area the next day.

Russia has amassed more than 100.000 troops near Ukraine's borders, denying plans for an invasion but seeking comprehensive security guarantees, including promises of no missile deployment near its borders, reduction of NATO's military infrastructure, and a ban on Ukraine from joining the alliance.

By law, NATO member Turkey can close the strait for transit if Russia takes military action against Ukraine.

"Turkey has the authority to close the strait to all foreign warships in times of war or when aggression is threatened. Also, it has the authority to deny transit to merchant ships belonging to countries that are at war with Turkey," said Yoruk Isik, an Istanbul-based geopolitical analyst.

Turkey, which shares maritime borders with Ukraine and Russia on the Black Sea, said any military conflict was unacceptable, telling Moscow that any invasion was unwise.

However, President Tayyip Erdogan also offered to mediate in the dispute between Moscow and Kyiv. Ankara has good relations with both countries, although President Erdogan has said he will do what is necessary as a member of NATO in the event of a Russian invasion.