On April 1, the Grigorovich-class guided-missile frigate undertook a weapons handling operation at Russia's Black Sea Fleet base, Port of Novorossiysk. Modern Russian warships such as the Grigorovich-class frigate have systems for vertical launch of cruise missiles at sea and land targets. Such missiles have historically been reloaded in Sevastopol, Crimea.
This is stated in the latest intelligence report of the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain.
Latest Defense Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 18 April 2024.
Find out more about Defense Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/EwBELWpRTX #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com /qf8Dx0mElM— Ministry of Defense 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 18, 2024
It is noted that the Black Sea Fleet has largely withdrawn its ships and submarines from Sevastopol pó to the east towards Novorossiysk. After the removal from office of the commander of the Black Sea Fleet in March of this year, the fleet has been the least active since the beginning of the war.
British intelligence indicates that although the Black Sea Fleet almost certainly remains close to Novorossiysk as the best method of avoiding a Ukrainian naval attack, its maintenance, logistics and weapons handling infrastructure at Novorossiysk is likely to be upgraded to support the new indefinite basing agreements.