Kiev is setting its sights on expanding control over as much of the Black Sea’s waters as possible, framing the objective as a strategic priority for 2026–2027. This was stated by Sergey Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister known by the call sign «Flash,» in a post on his Telegram channel.

He noted that only a few years ago, such ambitions might have seemed far-fetched for a country lacking a large conventional navy. However, he argued that the balance has shifted with rapid technological advances. Unmanned surface and underwater systems, along with a wide range of aerial drones, have moved to the forefront. At the same time, modern electronic intelligence and radar capabilities are playing an increasingly important role.

Beskrestnov also suggested that Kiev could reveal capabilities that catch its adversaries off guard, potentially forcing them to keep their ships within port rather than risk operating in open waters.