Russia Isolates Ukraine's Navy

The Russian Black Sea Fleet sank a mothballed cruiser in the inlet to Crimea's Donuzlav Lake on March 5, effectively blocking access to the sea from Ukraine's primary naval installation on the peninsula. Seven of the Ukrainian navy's estimated 25 ships are reportedly trapped in the port of Novoozerne. This action serves several purposes for the Russian forces operating in Crimea, but most important, blocking the channel further limits Ukraine's already weak naval capabilities.