Since Soviet times the Kerch Peninsula has been used as the military training ground. Under Ukrainian independence Russia trained its troops there – until its occupation in 2014. The need to control the Kerch Strait and security of the Kerch Bridge determined the profile of Russian military objects in Kerch City. Besides that, radar and anti-aircraft missile units are also located on the peninsula as it has been reported in the earlier materials.
We address our series of materials about Russian military objects in Crimea, legitimate targets for Ukraine, to our citizens in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. They need this information, in order to stay away from these objects and secure their personal safety.
Sea shore
The shore of the Black Sea from Prymorske under Feodosia to Opuksky Natural Reserve is covered by a number of military objects. Testing center named after Chkalov (highlighted in the last material) is bordered to the east by the large land plot occupied by the 127th separate reconnaissance brigade of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation (near so-called Pischana balka, coordinates 45.132193, 35.546884).
Eastern entrance to the territory of the 127th separate reconnaissance brigade of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation. Photo: Alexandr Deev / Google Earth
There are remnants of military base and warehouses on the territory of the brigade. They look abandoned but entrances to the territory are guarded, as photos demonstrate.
Territory of the 127th separate reconnaissance brigade of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, Pischana balka, Leninsky district, Crimea. Photo: Google Earth
The 127th separate reconnaissance brigade of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation has been organized in the second half of 2014 in occupied Sevastopol. It is staffed by Russian soldiers serving under military contracts. It participates in the Russian invasion into Ukraine.
The 127th separate reconnaissance brigade of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation during military training, 2018. Photo: screenshot of NTC
A series of military training grounds are located to the east of the 127th brigade. It is impossible to define precisely their borders but it is possible to indicate their coordinates.
Area of military training grounds of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The Kerch Peninsula. Photo: Google Earth
The territory of the 18th anti-aircraft missile regiment is located between Batalne village and Chauda Cape. Their anti-aircraft missile complexes of the regiment are also placed there (coordinates 45.149725, 35.730317).
Positions of the 18th anti-aircraft missile regiment, Leninsky district, Crimea. Photo: Google Earth
The military ground of the training center named after Chkalov of the Russian Aerospace Forces is situated near Chauda Cape. One can discern targets for training bombardment as well as demonstration complex and tribune on satellite pictures. Heads of occupation authorities and their guests used this tribune to observe maneuvers of the Russian planes (coordinates 45.096703, 35.732722).
Tribune of Chauda training ground, Aviadarts-2016. Photo: aviaphotos.ru
The Russian military unit 22951 uses lands near Chauda Cape, Durmen Mountain, Uzunlar Lake and Opuk Mountain as its sea training ground. For example, Russians used it to train amphibious landing from large assault ships.
Large assault ship «Tsesar Kunikov», Opuk training ground, 2021. Photo: К.Mikhalchevsky / RIA Novosti
It is evident that real war does not look like presentational military trainings. The Russian Federation was not able to make amphibious landing on the Black Sea shore in Mykolaivska and Odeska oblasts. Russian Aerospace Forces were also not able to seize control over Ukrainian sky, though they significantly outnumbered the Ukrainian Air Forces.
Kerch
The 3rd radiotechnical regiment and the 18th missile regiment are located the land plot at the 9th kilometer of the Kerch – Feodosia highway.
Radio location station of the 3rd radiotechnical regiment and anti-aircraft missile complex of the 18th anti-aircraft missile regiment. Photo: Google Earth
Radio transparent dome of the radar and anti-aircraft missile complexes are easily noticeable at the satellite picture (coordinates 45.322817, 36.361067).
Radars of the 3rd radiotechnical regiment. The view from Tavrida highway, the 9th kilometer. Photo: Yandex
The checkpoint of the 630th separate railroad battalion (coordinates 45.351068, 36.594806) of the 39th railroad brigade is situated in the northern part of Kerch, near Yeni-Kale fortress.
The 630th separate railroad battalion. Photo: Google Earth
The aim of the battalion is to repair and service railroads and to guard railroad objects. For example, the brigade participated in the construction and protection of the railroad part of the Kerch Bridge.
The checkpoint of the 630th separate railroad battalion. Photo: Yandex
The 115th separate special purpose brigade of the Russian Guard was created to guard the Kerch Bridge. Its main units are the 39th sea squad and the 114th motorized regiment. However, these military units were not able to protect the Kerch Bridge from explosion and partial destruction.
Construction of the base of the Russian Guard, Kerch. Photo: Google Earth
The base of the Russian Guard (coordinates 45.352713, 36.444760) was constructed at Pushkin Street, 10 in Kerch, on the place of destroyed branch of Kherson Technical University, near Kerych Jami Mosque.
Military boat “BK-16” of the 39th sea squad of the Russian Guard. Screenshot: Youtube Росгвардия
The 39th sea squad of the Russian Guard is located in the Port of Kerch, Kirov street, 54 (coordinates 45.363991, 36.492728). There are multi-story building, a square and a quay, with assault boats “BK-16”, anti-subversive boats “Grachonok” and a number of small motor boats and water scooters.
The 39th sea squad of the Russian Guard, Kerch. Photo: Google Earth
Another place of occupants’ military boats is very close. It is the base of the Border Guard of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (coordinates 45.351756, 36.479382). Its soldiers attacked Ukrainian boats in 2018 when Ukrainians tried to go through the Kerch Strait to the Azov Sea.
The base of the Border Guard of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, Kerch. Photo: Yandex
Ferries with military machines will be legitimate targets for Ukrainian strikes, too. Undoubtedly, the biggest target will be the Kerch Bridge, already exploded.
The Kerch Bridge and ship building plant «Zaliv». Photo: Google Earth
We should not forget about ship building plant «Zaliv» (coordinates 45.264428, 36.418743), supplying universal assault ships for the Russian Federation.
The view of plant «Zaliv» in Kerch, February 2020. Photo: archives of BlackSeaNews
Let us also look at two objects in Feodosia which we did not cover in our last overview of Russian military objects in Crimea.
Ship building plant «More» and radio location station of the 3rd radiotechnical regiment, Feodosia. Photo: Google Earth
It is ship building plant «More» (coordinates 45.119257, 35.496964) in Prymorske where the Russian Federation tried to build military ships. Then, Russian ship building was put under international sanctions and those plans were cancelled.
Ship building plant «More». Photo: aviaphotos.ru
And there is radio location station of the 3rd radiotechnical regiment at Tepe-Oba (coordinates 45.009761, 35.361316), close to the positions of the 18th anti-aircraft missile regiment at Ilia Cape near Feodosia.
Radio-location station of the 3rd radiotechnical regiment, Feodosia. Photo: starcom68.livejournal.com
Radio-location stations and positions of anti-aircraft missile complexes are situated outside settlements. They can be targeted without threatening civilians. The same is true about military training grounds. But workers of ship building plants should think about long term vacations or finding another job as there are no security guarantees for their enterprises. As recent history demonstrates, the Kerch Bridge cannot be considered «a safe place», too. The Port of Kerch is also under risk. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are approaching…
OSINT-investigator Irakli Komakhidze published «Full list of fire hazard objects of Crimea», with all Russian military objects in Crimea. They are all legitimate targets for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We will try to describe them and show their locations.
