Straits closure prevented Russia from occupying Odesa and Mykolaiv – Ukraine’s ambassador to Türkiye
Pravda Ukraine
Türkiye’s enforcement of the Montreux Convention by closing the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine has thwarted the Kremlin’s ability to leverage its maritime superiority to capture Odesa, Mykolaiv, and other regions.
Source: Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Türkiye, in an interview with Ukrinform news agency
Quote from Bodnar: “One of the critical stages of Ukraine’s defence was the closure of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits by Türkiye.
We sank the Moskva [flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet], and two other Russian cruisers were waiting in the Mediterranean.
And the fact that Türkiye closed the straits, I believe, did not allow Russia to use its advantage at sea to capture Odesa, Mykolaiv and other territories that Moscow planned to occupy through operations from the sea.”
Details: The ambassador also noted that Türkiye has become a major transport hub for Ukraine. At present, there is a transport visa-free regime for Ukrainian hauliers in the country.
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