Russia accelerated the construction of a naval base in occupied Abkhazia (photo)

Since the beginning of 2024, the aggressor country has significantly accelerated the construction of a naval base in the occupied region of Georgia.

The construction of an additional location of the Black Sea Fleet began in 2023. However, construction activity has accelerated since the beginning of 2024, Bellingcat  writes.

As can be seen on satellite images, the Russians are actively building numerous facilities around the perimeter of the future base in the occupied city of Ochamchyra. The base is likely to be of strategic importance to the Russian Federation. Thus, the future base can become a safe haven for the Black Sea Fleet, which suffered significant losses after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The latest changes seen at the base in Ochamchir include the appearance of several new foundations, land clearing for development and a new perimeter that will significantly expand the area of ​​the base. To the east of the harbor, where the railroad tracks are located, the Russians have cleared about nine acres of land, and over the past few weeks have been building what appears to be a concrete foundation of about 100 x 40 meters.

Around the eastern part of the territory of the base, between the base and Ochamchira, a new road is being poured along the perimeter. Shadows on satellite images show that a fence has been built along this route, potentially meaning a significant expansion of the base area. A large trench of unknown purpose was dug on the western side of the base.

It will be recalled that after the combined air and sea attack on the objects of the occupiers in Sevastopol in October 2022, the Russian Federation transferred a significant part of its fleet to Novorossiysk. Subsequently, Novorossiysk itself suffered similar attacks — in August 2023, May and July 2024.

Immediately after the attack in July, the Russian tugboat Project 22870 moved to the base in Ochamchir. Although the base has long supported a group of FSB coast guard ships, this is the first ship of the Black Sea Fleet to use the base.

The presence of a Russian naval base in occupied Abkhazia could affect Georgia’s plans to develop a modern deep-sea port at Anaklia, about 30 km south of Ochamchir. This multibillion-dollar project aims to make Georgia an independent international transit hub for goods between China and the EU.

USM recently wrote that the Russian Federation launched a missile boat that had been under construction for 30 years.