Russian: NATO Black Sea fleet vulnerable

MOSCOW, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- A retired Russian naval commander says the country's Black Sea Fleet could easily destroy a contingent of NATO vessels now in the region.

Admiral Eduard Baltin says NATO's reported contingent of three U.S. warships and seven other vessels wouldn't stand much of a chance if Russia made the unlikely decision to strike first, RIA Novosti reported Saturday.

"Despite the apparent strength, the NATO naval group in the Black Sea is not battle-worthy," Baltin told the news agency. "If necessary, a single missile salvo from the Moskva missile cruiser and two or three missile boats would be enough to annihilate the entire group."

Within 20 minutes, he said, "the waters would be clear," even though Russia has reduced its Black Sea capabilities in recent years. The possibility of such a scenario, however, is "negligible," Baltin said, adding, "We will not strike first, and they do not look like people with suicidal tendencies."

The NATO ships are in the Black Sea for the announced reason of delivering humanitarian aid to Georgia after the conclusion of hostilities between Tbilisi and Moscow over breakaway South Ossetia.