Kyiv, July 10, 2014 – Military amphibious assault Mistral style ships supply to Russia puts an end to Euro Atlantic solidarity. By selling Mistral warshіps France demonstrates that it approves Russia’s actions and enhances further aggression towards Ukraine. It was the statement director of External policy and international safety of Razumkov Center Oleksiy Melnyk made during his media briefing in the Ukraine Crisis Media Center. «A kitchen knife in itself is not a murder weapon. Everything depends on whose hands the object gets into. Mistral is a military amphibious assault ship able to carry 16 helicopters, 13 tanks (or 60 MPCs) and 450 to 900 troopers. France will provide for “filling” of those warships, pertaining to communication and supervision means, but Russia reserves a right to equip it with cannons or air defence weapons. It is extremely powerful armament», – explained the military expert.
Presence of Mistral warships in Russia will considerably increase Russia’s capabilities to conduct distant military operations. It poses a threat not only to the countries of Black Sea and Baltic region, but also creates danger of intrusion into the countries – NATO and EU members. Among other threats, Razumkov’s Center expert lists loss of technological advantage and weakening of standpoint of the West. In Oleksiy Melnyk’s opinion, France does not think strategically on the issue of warships sale, and prefers short-term economic interests. «Right, these are contractual obligations and thousands of working places, but in the long run this issue pertains to the principles of Euro-Atlantic solidarity undermining. France splits the countries of European Union itself and EU and USA. Mistral is the wind that blew European and Atlantic solidarity away», – added Mr. Melnyk.
Expert drew attention to the fact that negotiation process between Russia and France on amphibious assault ships was launched at the end of 2008, exactly when Russian-Georgian military conflict was in full swing. Describing warfighting capabilities of Mistral ships, Oleksiy Melnyk cited the words of admiral of the Russian fleet Volodymyr Vysotskyi: «Should we have a Mistral warship in the time of the conflict with Georgia, Black Sea fleet would accomplish their task in 40 minutes rather than needed 26 hours as it had happened back then».
The Contract concluded between France and Russian Federation envisages sale of 4 warships at 1.7 billion dollars. Supply of the first two vessels, “Vladyvostok” and “Sevastopol” are scheduled for October 2014 and beginning of 2015 correspondingly. As of today about 400 Russian military men are being trained in France.
