In October 2023, the president of Abkhazia, a Russian-backed separatist area of Georgia, introduced {that a} new Russian navy base could be constructed to function a “everlasting place of deployment” for components of Russia’s Black Sea fleet at Ochamchire, a small harbour serving a coal terminal and Federal Safety Service (FSB) Coast Guard division.
Whereas these plans weren’t confirmed by Russia, and there was little observable exercise within the months instantly following the announcement, satellite tv for pc imagery analysed by Bellingcat reveals that development exercise has accelerated since early 2024, with a number of buildings and perimeter options below development.
The rumoured base could be of strategic significance for Russia, consultants counsel, because the naval base may present a protected haven for the Black Sea Fleet, which has been topic to Ukrainian drone assaults since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
After a mixed aerial and sea assault on Sevastopol within the latter a part of October 2022, Russia moved a lot of its fleet to Novorossiysk. Novorossiysk was topic to related assaults in August 2023, Might 2024 and July 2024. Simply after the assault in July, open supply researcher H.I. Sutton (@CovertShores on X) noticed {that a} Russian Challenge 22870 tugboat had moved from Novorossiysk to the Ochamchire base. Whereas the bottom has lengthy supported a gaggle of FSB coast guard vessels, that is the primary ship from the Russian Navy to utilise the bottom.
The presence of a Russian navy base may affect Georgia’s plans to develop a contemporary deep-water port in Anaklia, roughly 30 km south of Ochamchire. This multibillion-dollar undertaking goals to make Georgia an impartial worldwide transit hub for items between China and the European Union. Initially led by a Georgian-American consortium, the undertaking was cancelled by the Georgian authorities in 2020 amidst home political controversy and nearer relations between Russia and the ruling Georgian Dream occasion. In Might 2024, the port undertaking was restarted, now led by a Chinese language consortium.
The current modifications noticed on the Ochamchire base embrace the looks of a number of new foundations, land clearance for growth, and a brand new perimeter that might considerably increase the world of the bottom. East of the harbour, the place railroad tracks enter the army base, about 9 acres of land has been cleared, and what seems to be a big concrete basis of roughly 100 x 40 metres has been below development over the previous a number of weeks.
Across the jap aspect of the bottom space, between the bottom and the city of Ochamchire, a brand new perimeter highway has been cleared. Shadows in satellite tv for pc pictures seem to point out {that a} fence has been constructed alongside this route, probably signifying a big growth within the space of the bottom.
Close to the harbour, one other basis has been constructed since June 2024. Additionally seen is a Russian Navy Challenge 22870 tugboat, first reported by Naval Information, that arrived in Ochamchire from Novorossiysk at first of July.
On the west aspect of the bottom, a pre-existing cleared area has been cleaned up, and a big trench of unclear function has been dug by the centre. Cleared areas might be seen by the seashore, doubtless a results of on-site sand and combination mining for development, which Google Earth satellite tv for pc pictures present has beforehand taken place at this location.
Data has been scarce about Russia’s plans for the naval base in Ochamchire. Whereas satellite tv for pc pictures present that there’s an growth of the bottom underway, it stays unclear what the aim of the brand new constructions will probably be, what Russia’s long-term objectives for the bottom are, and the way this can affect its strategic place within the Black Sea.
Bellingcat is a non-profit and the power to hold out our work depends on the sort assist of particular person donors. If you need to assist our work, you are able to do so right here. You can even subscribe to our Patreon channel right here. Subscribe to our Publication and observe us on Twitter right here and Mastodon right here.
