Russia Engages Its Black Sea Fleet

Russia has steamed several warships from its Black Sea ports, including one from the Ukraine. The warships have turned away shipments of grain to Georgia; the naval blockade has begun.

My military/foreign policy sources have posted that the Ukraine (who are Georgian sympathizers) have privately told the Russians that if any Russian warships leave Ukrainian ports, they should not expect to be allowed back. The Ukraine leases the ex-Soviet ports to the Russians, and this move may mean that the lease is now up.

The Russian Black Sea fleet is not much more than a bunch of rusted-out early 1980s-era coastal defense ships, but they still have cannons and some (questionable) anti-ship missile capabilities. But since NATO can't enter the Black Sea, even small cannons and corroded missiles can rule the waters there.

Let's give it up to French President Sarkozy, as we hope his enormous balls end this Russian aggression.