Ukraine crisis, shipping banned for Russian ballistic-missile launches

Ukraine crisis, four large areas of sea are banned from navigation and overflight due to a massive exercise by the Russian Navy Militia. Tensions mount for those sailing in the Black Sea or the Sea of Azov who need to stay updated on the situation through Navtex messages.

Navigation Areas Prohibited for Missile and Ballistic Launch Exercises

The Russian Navy has announced to all units at sea, massive naval ballistic missile firing and missile launching exercises from 21 UTC Feb. 13 to 21 p.m. Feb. 19, 2022 in both the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. All units are “warned” to stay outside the designated areas.

BLACK SEA AND AZOV SEA AREAS INVOLVED IN SHOOTING TRIALS

The first prohibited area extends from the northern entrance to the Kerch Strait, potentially cutting off traffic for Ukrainian ports to the Sea of Azov, for the duration of the exercise. On the Black Sea, two other large prohibited areas extend from the occupied Crimea area, one southwest toward Bulgaria and one westward toward Odessa. The latter area, essentially leaves Ukraine with only a narrow channel of free coastal waters to connect Odessa with the Bosphorus.

RUSSIAN NAVAL SHIPS CROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN TO JOIN THE EXERCISE

As reported by the Russian Defense Ministry website, a considerable number of naval warfare units are crossing the Mediterranean Sea to join exercises coordinated by Admiral Nikolai Evmenov. Three logistics support ships, the Korolev, Minsk and Kaliningrad have already crossed the Dardanelles Strait, followed by the landing craft Pyotr Morgunov, Georgy Pobedonosets and Olenegorsky Gornyak. In total, the Russian Navy announces the deployment of 140 units including warships and support ships, 60 aircraft, involving about 10,000 military personnel.

NAVTEX TO UPDATE IN NAVIGATION

For those who are sailing in those waters, or need to reach Ukrainian ports, the best way to stay up-to-date on the maritime situation is to read NAVAREA Warning messages that can be downloaded either from the Web, or from the app, and on board with the Navtex receiver for notices to mariners, which operates via radio on 490/518kHz. The Mediterranean and Black Nar area, called Area III, is under the responsibility of the Spanish Armada and messages are available here

THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE ANNOUNCING THE EXERCISE

Below is the original NavTex Navarea Warning message announcing the sea stretches involved in the exercise with the coordinates of the prohibited areas illustrated in the map and has worried most international observers focused on the Ukraine crisis.

NAVAREA III 0074/22 BLACK SEA
1.-NAVAL TRAINING MISSILE AND GUNNERY FIRING EXERCISES FROM 132100 TO 192100 UTC FEB22 IN AREAS BOUNDED BY:
A. 45-20.0N 032-30.0E 45-10.0N 031-45.0E 45-10.0N 030-30.0E 45-45.0N 030-30.0E 46-10.0N 030-55.0E 45-50.0N 032-45.0E 45-38.0N 032-55.0E AND COASTLINE B. 45-00.0N 033-17.5E 45-00.0N 033-28.4E 44-40.8N 033-28.4E 44-40.8N 033-22.3E 44-42.9N 033-17.5E C. 44-25.0N 033-42.0E 44-01.0N 033-37.0E 43-19.5N 033-00.0E 43-15.5N 031-50.0E 42-53.5N 030-50.0E 43-15.5N 030-21.0E 44-20.0N 031-56.5E 44-34.2N 033-08.5E 44-31.0N 033-28.5E AND COASTLINE
D. 45-03.3N 036-17.0E 44-57.5N 036-23.0E 44-45.0N 036-24.0E 44-17.0N 036-24.0E 44-17.0N 035-10.0E 44-47.0N 035-10.0E 45-00.0N 035-50.0E AND COASTLINE E. 45-07.2N 036-49.0E 44-52.0N 037-04.5E 44-36.5N 037-09.5E 44-15.0N 037-17.5E 42-50.0N 037-42.5E 43-24.0N 036-25.0E 44-31.0N 036-40.0E 44-58.0N 036-36.0E 44-58.7N 036-35.8E 45-06.0N 036-42.0E 45-06.7N 036-44.0E AND COASTLINE F. 44-34.5N 037-42.0E 44-31.5N 037-50.0E 44-20.5N 037-48.0E 44-24.0N 037-39.5E G. 44-52.5N 037-11.8E 44-53.4N 037-15.4E 44-44.4N 037-19.4E 44-43.5N 037-15.8E H. 44-26.0N 037-55.5E 44-06.0N 038-35.5E 43-49.0N 038-18.0E 44-09.0N 037-38.0E
CAUTION ADVISED. 2.-DELETE THIS MESSAGE 192200 UTC FEB22.

Luigi Gallerani

SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT US, WE GIVE YOU TWO GIFTS!

The journalists of the Sailing Newspaper, strive every day to ensure quality, up-to-date and correct information about the boating world free of charge through their websites. If you appreciate our work, support us by subscribing to the magazine. The annual subscription costs only 49 euros and we give you two gifts!

DISCOVER THE SAILING NEWSPAPER YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Daily interviews, boat trials, webinars. The whole sail, minute by minute. But on video! CLICK HERE To sign up, it’s free!

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

To stay up-to-date on all the news from the world of sailing, selected by our editorial staff, sign up for the Sailing Newspaper newsletter! It’s super easy, just enter your email below, agree to the Privacy Policy and click the “Sign Me Up” button. You will then receive on your email, twice a week, the best sailing news! It’s a free service and you can unsubscribe at any time, with no obligation!