Cyclic's explanation of coastal missiles and Black Sea Fleet withdrawal

Cyclic argues that Ukrainian coastal missile batteries drove the Russian fleet away from the coast. He connects its limited local air defence to absent combatants that could not return after Turkey closed the straits. He identifies two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates as the relevant local-defence ships and rejects the suggestion that Moskva supplied the same capability. Participants also allege that Moskva's legacy air-defence system was unsuitable for sea-skimming targets, was not operational and remained in service because of political pressure. Missing escorts and dependence on her radar complete the explanation offered for her exposure. Those readiness and political claims remain the participants' account of the campaign.