Russia European border security pivot around Ukraine. Kiev is an essential piece in Russian security strategy as it protects Russia's eastern land border and on the Sea, Russia's access to the Black and Caspian Seas. This in turn Geographically threaten Moscow access to four seas: the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, The Baltic Sea and the White Sea. The Deep water system of European Russia, connects the inland with Russia's peripheries, including the Azov Sea, where Moscow obtain majority of its Energy sources, like coal and oil. Thus the Azov and Black Seas are essential pieces in Russia's security strategy.

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Narration by Jasper: [email protected]
Script editing by Sterling, Elmer and Hugo
Many thanks to Jasper, Sterling, @Hoog and @Into Europe for their great help!
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Check out other analysis like:    • Why Russia is Invading Ukraine   and    • The Failed Logistics of Russia's Inva...  
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Table of content:

00:00 Russia's Strategic Weakeness on its European Border
01:03 Russia's first Weakness: The European Plain
04:46 Moscow Second Weakness: Why Ukraine Role in the Black and Azov seas is critical
06:06 Russia's Lack of Warm Water Ports
07:30 NATO controlled Chokepoints
08:58 The Deep Water System of Russia
10:42 The Importance of Rostov-on-Don on the Azov Sea
11:33 Ukraine Strategic Importance in the Black and Azov Seas
14:24 The Volga-Don Channel
15:08 Control of the Black and Caspian Seas

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Music: CO.AG; And Vivaldi by Modena Chamber Orchestra (https://musopen.org/music/43776-conce...) under C.C. 01 https://creativecommons.org/publicdom...

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Check my previous videos:

Australia's Maritime Strategy:    • Australia Maritime Strategy  

Strategic Importance of Afghanistan:    • Why is Afghanistan so Strategic?  

The Malacca Dilemma:    • China's weakness: the Malacca Strait  

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Bibliography

[1] Prisoners of Geography, Tim Marshall
[2] https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bri...
[3] https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/defaul..., p.25
[4] https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans...
[5] https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/defaul..., p.25
[6] https://www.marshallcenter.org/de/nod...
https://missilethreat.csis.org/missil...