Zelenskyy: Russian Navy is no longer safe in the Black Sea and near Crimea

(Patria) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed on Tuesday that recent Ukrainian attacks have deprived the Russian fleet of safe bases and safe maritime corridors in the western part of the Black Sea, as they seek to push occupying forces from the Crimean peninsula, AP reported.

"The Russian fleet is no longer able to operate in the western part of the Black Sea and is gradually withdrawing from Crimea," Zelenskyy said.

"This is a historic achievement," he added.

Ukraine wants to show that the billions of dollars worth of weapons supplied by its Western allies have enabled it to make progress in the fighting. With the war preparing to extend into another winter and likely deep into next year, Kyiv is pushing its allies to provide it with more military aid.

Ukrainian forces are not yet able to hit any targets in Crimea and its waters, but that capability is approaching, Zelenskyy said at a meeting of the Crimean Platform via video link.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its forces hit three Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea early Tuesday morning.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.