Home › Politics › Black Sea drills and a US warning on Ukraine
Black Sea drills and a US warning on Ukraine
Summary
A look back at two developments reported on 10 February 2022 that framed the pressure on Ukraine a day later.
What did Ukraine's position look like on 11 February 2022? The previous day had brought two warnings, one from Kyiv about its coastline and one from Washington about its citizens.
On 10 February 2022, Ukraine said that Russian Navy drills in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov had made navigation "virtually impossible". Kyiv described the exercises as part of a "hybrid war" against the country. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the Sea of Azov was completely blocked, which in practice amounted to a blockade of Ukrainian ports.
The same day, U.S. President Joe Biden called on any Americans still in Ukraine to leave immediately, citing increased threats of Russian military action. The U.S. State Department issued a level 4 travel warning, the highest level.
Two pressures, one picture
The two announcements addressed different audiences. Ukraine framed the naval drills as a matter of economic and maritime access, with its ports affected. Washington framed the danger in terms of personal safety and urged departure. Both rested on the same assessment: the threat of Russian military action had grown.
