The Democracy Research Institute periodically provides the public with information regarding the deployment of the military navy in Abkhazia. Large-scale preparatory works for the construction of the naval base began in occupied Abkhazia, near the village of Pichori, four kilometers from Anaklia, in October 2023 and are actively continuing. According to the information available to the Democracy Research Institute, on January 10 and 11, exercises were conducted on the territory of the base, where repelling mass attacks on the port with missiles and strike drones was simulated. Information is being actively spread in Russian open sources that the construction of the above-mentioned base may be completed in 2024.

At the same time, on January 8, 2024, fortification[1] works began in Abkhazia in order to strengthen the position on several sections of the occupation line. Defence positions are being built in depth as well - echeloned defence positions are being prepared in Ochamchire, Tkvarcheli and Gulripshi districts. The officers of the Russian General Staff are managing the processes, while technical works are mainly performed by Abkhaz soldiers.

The Democracy Research Institute considers that the Russian Federation may be actively preparing the territory of Abkhazia's marine waters for use in the war against Ukraine.

 

[1] A building intended for camouflaging weapons, military equipment, troops and command posts and better using them in the battle, as well as for protecting the army, population and facilities from the enemy's destructive activates. Fortification works include the development of fortification building constructions and the ways they are built and used.