Ships from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet surrounded on Saturday the Zaporizhzhia, the only Ukrainian Navy submarine, which was stationed in Crimea and took control over the boat from the Ukrainian sailors, RIA Novosti reported.
Once seized, the flag of the Russian Navy was hoisted on the submarine which will now form part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The vessel was towed away to the Russian Black Sea base in Yuzhnaya Bay.
According to commander of the Black Sea Fleet’s submarine flotilla, comprising three submarines with the latest acquisition,quoted by RIA Novosti, “ half of the Zaporizhzhia’s crew, together with the captain, refused to serve in the Russian Navy and left the vessel, whereas the remaining half are ready to serve Russia.”
The diesel-electric powered “Foxtrot”-class submarine, commissioned in 1970, is said to have been taken over in a poor technical condition.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, March 24, 2014; Image: Wikimedia