Russian Warships Pass Bosphorus Strait

Two Russian Navy warships passed the Bosphorus Strait yesterday, the South African Press Association (Sapa-AFP)reported.

According to Turkish Anatolia Agency, the two ships are the 150 Saratov and the landing ship 156 Yamal.

The ships are on their way to the Black Sea, Turkish media wrote.

The Ukrainian navy ship, Hetman Sahaydachny was also spotted crossing the Dardanelles Strait, heading in the same direction.

Sevastopol, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimean Peninsula, is a strategically important naval point.

The Port of Sevastopol has been the home of the Russian navy’s Black Sea fleet for some 250 years.

Tensions remain high as the skirmishing over the strategic Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea resumes between the Pro-Russian troops and Ukrainian soldiers.

Turkey is worried about the fate of the Turkish-speaking Tatar minority in Crimea amid rising tensions in the region.

[mappress]
Naval Today Staff, March 5, 2014; Image: Wikimedia