The AFU took control of Boyko towers in the Black Sea: why it's important and what you need to know about them
The Boyko towers were seized by russia in 2015, and after the full-scale invasion, the platforms were used for military purposes. Find out how the occupiers used the towers against Ukraine and why their liberation is an important victory for the Ukrainian armed forces
Ukrainian intelligence has reported that Ukraine has taken control of gas and oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea near occupied Crimea. These structures, better known as Boyko Rigs, were occupied by russia in 2015. Here's why they are important for the Ukrainian army.
Ukraine takes control of the Boyko towers
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said that Ukrainian soldiers conducted a unique operation and returned the Petro Godovalets and Ukraina drilling platforms, as well as the Tavrida and Syvash jack-up drilling rigs.
The special forces also managed to capture valuable trophies during the operation: a stockpile of helicopter munitions such as NAR (unguided aerial missiles), as well as the Neva radar, which can track the movement of ships in the Black Sea.
At the same time, the Navy noted that the operation to liberate the platforms was very risky, as, in addition to the threat of russian sabotage groups landing from small boats, there was also a danger from the air.
"To cover such a distance on rubber boats, you really need to be very tough guys, which is what the Hurov guys are. Despite the fact that we have liberated this zone from the presence of russian warships, it can still be considered gray, because russian aviation is present there, unfortunately, for now," said Dmytro Pletenchuk, a representative of the Ukrainian Navy, in a commentary to Radio Liberty.
According to him, russian aviation conducts reconnaissance and even inflicts fire damage.
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What are Boyko's towers?
Boyko's rigs are gas drilling platforms that were built off the coast of Crimea in the Black Sea in different years from 2010 to 2012. In 2011, a Ukrainian company purchased a Singapore-made drilling platform directly from the manufacturer Keppel, and later another platform was purchased.
The platforms were named "Boyko's rigs" after a 2011 article by Oleksiy Shalaysky and Yuriy Nikolov, "Rig for Boyko," which reported on the purchase of platforms at inflated prices by the Ministry of Energy headed by Yuriy Boyko.
In 2015, a year after the occupation of Crimea, the russian federation seized Boyko's towers and used them for military purposes after the start of the full-scale invasion. In particular, as helipads and for the deployment of radar equipment.
As you know, the platforms have helipads. In order to supply the military "choppers," the occupiers brought ammunition and fuel to the towers.
Why are Boyko's towers important?
Russian troops successfully used the platforms for radio reconnaissance. There were various radar stations there that helped to provide missile launches and escort all the necessary missile equipment to our southern borders, especially to the Odesa region.
Experts believe that the return of Boyko's towers to Ukrainian control will reduce the effectiveness of russia's management of such weapons. However, it will not cancel it, because the enemy still has the appropriate equipment on the coast of Crimea.
We remind you! The Ukrainian Navy is significantly inferior to the russian navy in terms of size and technical component, but russian ships no longer dominate the sea. Why the russian Black Sea Fleet does not feel safe, read here.
Photo: Wikipedia
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