Caribbean Vacation

Galrahn isn’t too impressed by the Russians’ plan to send a small naval task force led by a Kirov-class cruiser to maneuver with the Venezuelans this November:
If the ship blows up then we’ll be interested. The other three ships include a destroyer, an oiler, and a … you guessed it, fleet tug.
And no, that’s not [...]

And in the Crimea …

Differing takes on what’s been going on in Sevastopol. Russian Navy Blog has an account (translated from Russian) of street protests and harassment when the Coasties from the USCGS Dallas went ashore during their recent port visit. 
Meanwhile, the Kiev Post takes a look at the ethnic politics in the city, finds calm amongst the citizenry [...]

New Arrival in Sevastopol

The USNS Pathfinder has followed in the wake of the USCGS Dallas and docked in Sevastopol. Has someone in the Bush administration given some thought to whether it’s such a good idea to stir up the Russian-speakers in that city? Oh, wait …

Survey This

What’s a US Navy-owned oceanographic survey ship doing in the Black Sea? Spying, the Russians guess. They’re not the only ones.

USCG Invades the Ukraine

Who knew the US Coast Guard was so unpopular?

This is actually part of a protest by Russian speakers in Sevastopol against a port visit by the USCGS Dallas. Russian Navy Blog has more photos and a video newscast from “RU Tube.” Enjoy.

Naval Activity in the Black Sea

This is ominous:
Apparently after returning to port on August 23rd, the Moskva went back to sea today sailing from Sevastopol to Novorossiisk. Why? The article details some new events off the coast of Georgia.
What events?
Navy Times is reporting that the USS McFaul (DDG 74) has dropped anchor in the Georgian port of Batumi.
Hat to Galrahn at Information Dissemination. Keep [...]

Keep Out

Russia quietly ups the ante:
In recent days, several Bear-H bombers have carried out training missions over the Black Sea, according to American officials familiar with intelligence reports. The training flights represent the first time that a Bear bomber has flown over the Black Sea in at least two years, according to American military experts. The [...]