Why is the Black Sea crucial to Russia?

Q Why is it in News ?

A The sinking of the huge Russian warship Moskva whether due to a Ukrainian missile strike or, as Russia claims, a fire on board — is a serious setback for Russia in the Black Sea.

Q What are some key details about Black Sea ?

A 

• The famed water body is bound by Ukraine to the north and northwest, Russia and Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west.
• It links to the Sea of Marmara through the Bosphorus and then to the Aegean through the Dardanelles.

Q What is the significance of Black Sea for Russia ?

A 

• Domination of the Black Sea region is a geostrategic imperative for Moscow.
• Black Sea has traditionally been Russia’s warm water gateway to Europe.
• For Russia, the Black Sea is both a stepping stone to the Mediterranean.
• It acts as a strategic buffer between NATO and itself.
• It showcases the Russian power in the Mediterranean and to secure the economic gateway to key markets in southern Europe.
• The Rhine-Main-Danube canal connects the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea and the port of Odessa serves as a vital link between Ukraine and the outside world.

Q How is Black Sea crucial in  Ukraine war ?

A 

• Russia has been making efforts to gain complete control over the Black Sea since the Crimean crisis of 2014.
• During the ongoing invasion, the domination of the Black Sea has been a major Russian objective, along with the land bridge to connect Russia and Crimea.
• As such, there have been intense efforts to capture Mariupol, the Sea of Azov port in the breakaway eastern Ukrainian oblast of Donetsk.
• Mariupol appeared close to falling to the Russians.

Q What are the reasons for Sinking of the Moskva ?

A 

• The sinking of the Moskva is believed to be the worst loss in the history of naval warfare.
• It was sunk by shore-based anti-ship cruise missiles which took advantage of bad weather and used decoy UAV attacks to defeat the ship’s air defence systems.
• It demonstrates the success of outside-the-box measures adopted by Ukraine in the war.