Russia’s warships are returning to Vladivostok after Turkey denied them access to the Black Sea

Russian Pacific Fleet ships have been waiting for permission from Turkish officials to bridge the Bosporus and join the Black Sea since early February, but Ankara has refused.

The ships, including the Pacific Fleet’s missile cruiser Varyag and the huge anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributes, were observed in the Singapore Strait on Sunday, November 6, on their way to their home base in Vladivostok.

The ships were identified by the letters “Z” and “V.” Russia has been waiting for permission to pass for nine months.

According to some reports, the Varyag and the Admiral Tributs had been stationed in the Mediterranean Sea since 2 February and were preparing to deploy to the Black Sea to attack Ukrainian territory.