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Crimea and Sevastopol

Russian admiral dismisses Poroshenko’s threat to fight for returning Crimea as bluff

The admiral admitted however that the Russian Black Sea Fleet is in need of new ships

Russian Black Sea Fleet ship and helicopters during a naval parade rehearsal (archive) ITAR-TASS/Alexey Pavlishak

Russian Black Sea Fleet ship and helicopters during a naval parade rehearsal (archive)

© ITAR-TASS/Alexey Pavlishak

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SEVASTOPOL, April 15. /TASS/. Head of the State Duma Defense Committee, former commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Admiral Vladimir Komoedov has perceived with irony a recent statement by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the need to revive the Ukrainian naval fleet to "fight for the return of Crimea."

"I don’t understand what forces would be involved in doing so. Their only submarine is somewhere in Sevastopol. Maybe, they will use inflatable boats for attacking Russian warships? It’s yet another bluff," Komoedov told reporters in Sevastopol on Wednesday.

The admiral also noted that the Russian military grouping in Crimea has already been created and the peninsula is well protected. On the other hand, he admitted that the Black Sea Fleet is in need of new ships.

"The Black Sea Fleet is the oldest in Russia…. It has to be upgraded, and a lot is being done for that," Komoedov said.

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Russia's Black Sea Fleet

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Crimea and Sevastopol Black Sea Black Sea Fleet

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