Russia announces commencement of large-scale naval exercises

Russia's Defense Ministry revealed Thursday that the country's Pacific Fleet has begun a week-long series of naval exercises involving more than 40 ships and more than 20 aircraft.

According to a statement released by the ministry, the exercises - which will run from June 3 to 10 - will involve "groups of ships together with naval aviation participating in search operations for (enemy) submarines."

The exercises will begin three months into Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation," just as Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky warned that the Kremlin's forces already occupy 20% of the country.

Speaking in Luxembourg's Parliament on Thursday, Zelenski said about 48,260 square miles are currently under Russian control - including Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine that Russian separatists seized in 2014, the BBC reported.

"We have to defend ourselves against almost the entire Russian military. All Russian combat-ready military formations are involved in this aggression," he warned, adding that the front line stretches for more than 620 miles.

But since Russia launched its illegal invasion of Ukraine, its navy has suffered heavy losses against its outnumbered neighbor.

According to a report by Business Insider, the Kremlin has lost at least five Raptor-class patrol boats, a Tapir-class landing ship, a Serna-class landing craft and, most notably, the Moskva, a Slava-class guided missile cruiser that was also the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet.

As Benjamin Brimelow noted earlier, "the losses in themselves are not catastrophic for the Russian navy and are unlikely to alter the course of the war or the balance of power in the Black Sea, but they are blows to Russian prestige."