Russians Block Zaliv Shipyard Bay with Barges

In Kerch, at the entrance to the Zaliv shipyard bay, Russian forces have positioned barges and a target vessel to defend against Ukrainian anti-ship missile strikes.

According to the Crimean Wind Telegram channel, earlier this year, Russian military units blocked the bay’s entrance with three barges and boom barriers, aiming to thwart Ukrainian naval drone incursions.

In June, one of the so-called “large ship shields” of the 436bis project joined the blockade, which is essentially a target vessel equipped with angular reflectors. These reflectors have a radar-contrast profile and are designed to attract anti-ship missiles with passive and active radar guidance systems.

According to the channel, since 2015, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has had two such vessels in its possession.

Their placement in the bay indicates the invaders’ serious concern about the threat posed by Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles and highlights the need to protect their main shipbuilding yard on the Black Sea.

In April, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel also reported the presence of the Project 1204 Shmel armored artillery boat near the barges, which was most likely deployed there for surveillance and to guard the bay against naval drones.

The 73-ton armored boat is armed with a 76-mm artillery gun, machine guns, and a 140-mm multiple rocket launcher system, all of which can be used to repel an attack.

The Zaliv shipyard, captured by Russia in 2014, is currently constructing the Project 23900 Ivan Rogov amphibious assault ship for the Russian Navy.

The shipyard is expected to build two ships of this project, Ivan Rogov and Mitrofan Moskalenko, each with a displacement of 25,000 tons and a length of approximately 220 meters. Each boat will be able to accommodate over 20 helicopters and up to 900 marines.

Laid down in 2020, these amphibious assault ships are intended to compensate for significant losses in large amphibious assault ships in the Russian Navy during the Russo-Ukrainian War.

In November 2023, Ukrainian tactical aviation destroyed a Project 22800 Askold small missile ship at the Kerch shipyard with a cruise missile strike.