As expected, just as the old man had predicted, when the tugboat fleet—escorted by the Ukrainian and Russian navies—reached the midpoint of the sea route, three Turkish Kılıç-class destroyers, accompanied by eight Gazi Antep-class frigates, blocked their path. The formation made it clear: Turkey was prepared to confront the Ukrainian and Russian fleets head-on!
...
With the entire sea route blocked, the eight Ukrainian tugboats, following orders, were forced to slow down.
Half an hour later, as they towed the Varyag aircraft carrier, they found themselves encircled by Turkish warships in the middle of the strait. At that moment, both the Russian and Ukrainian fleets arrived just in time, facing off against the Turkish navy.
The nuclear-powered cruisers of the Russian and Ukrainian fleets had already opened their missile bays, and the main guns of the Russian Sovremenny-class destroyers were locked onto the three Turkish Kılıç-class destroyers. If the Turkish navy dared to make a move, they would face an overwhelming and relentless barrage of firepower.
The tension was palpable. The three Turkish destroyers, along with their eight frigates, were fully prepared for battle, determined to prevent the Ukrainian tugboats from passing through the strait.
This standoff was on the brink of erupting into full-scale conflict. Whichever side fired the first shot, the other would not back down.
The intense situation also attracted a group of war correspondents, who, driven by their instincts, rushed to the scene by car. From the shores of the strait, they captured this historic moment on camera.
If a battle broke out, their close proximity to the conflict zone meant they could easily be hit by shrapnel and killed instantly. But for the sake of exclusive military news, they believed the risk was worth it.
At that moment, a Turkish warship broadcasted a warning to the Russian and Ukrainian fleets over loudspeakers:
"This is the Third Fleet of the Turkish Navy! You have severely violated our territorial waters! I order you to turn around immediately! If you do not comply, we will take military action!"
The Russian-Ukrainian joint fleet responded even more aggressively:
"Turkish Third Fleet, you are facing the combined might of the Ukrainian and Russian navies. Our 642 missile launchers are locked onto all your vessels! Within three seconds, we can sink your entire fleet! We strongly advise you to stand down immediately and allow our tugboats safe passage, or you will bear the consequences!"
After the heated exchange, silence fell once again. The Turkish Third Fleet knew very well that they were hopelessly outmatched. They were no match for the Russian-Ukrainian joint fleet.
However, as soldiers, they had a duty to carry out orders, even if it meant risking their lives. They could only grit their teeth and hold their positions, hoping their government would soon issue a retreat order—so they could escape this situation alive before being completely wiped out.
The news of the Turkish navy's attempt to block the Varyag aircraft carrier quickly reached the Kremlin. Upon hearing it, the Russian president immediately ordered the air force to prepare for combat.
The standoff continued for a full two hours, with the entire world closely watching the developments in the Turkish Strait.
Then, just as the crisis entered its third hour—
From Russian airspace, two supersonic bombers, resembling majestic white swans, suddenly appeared, flying in from the direction of the Engels Air Force Base!
Underneath their wings hung multiple heavy-duty missiles. Judging by their appearance, these were neither air-to-air nor air-to-ground missiles—they looked like nuclear warhead-tipped strategic missiles!
The Tu-160 long-range supersonic strategic bombers were truly the ultimate weapons of the Russian and Ukrainian forces. The moment the two bombers took off from Russian airspace, the Turkish air force base went into complete panic.
"Marshal! We just received the latest intelligence—Russia's Engels Air Force Base has dispatched two Tu-160 long-range supersonic bombers! They are flying toward our territory and will enter attack range in approximately 18 minutes!"
In the command center of the Turkish air force base, the air marshal stared grimly at the combat screen. Two glaring red dots were rapidly approaching Turkish airspace at supersonic speed.
If those two bombers entered Turkish airspace, the consequences would be catastrophic—they could wipe Turkey off the map in minutes! Even Turkey's surface-to-air missiles might not be able to shoot them down...
"Get me the president on the line—immediately!"
"Damn those navy bastards! Why the hell did they provoke Ukraine and Russia? What the hell were they thinking?!" the Turkish air marshal cursed in frustration.
Blocking the Varyag aircraft carrier had been a reckless move by the Turkish navy, with absolutely nothing to do with the air force.
If this situation spiraled out of control, leading to irreversible consequences, the Turkish air force would be dragged down with the navy—for no reason at all!
The news of the approaching Tu-160 bombers quickly reached the Turkish president. Realizing the severity of the situation, he immediately called the navy headquarters and ordered them to let the Varyag pass. The Russians weren't bluffing!
Two minutes later, the Turkish Third Fleet, following new orders from the top, silently made way for the Russian and Ukrainian joint fleet.
Before their eyes, the eight tugboats continued towing the Varyag aircraft carrier, successfully passing through the Dardanelles Strait.
Of all the people involved in this high-stakes standoff, none had been more terrified than the captains and crew of the eight Ukrainian tugboats.
When they finally crossed the Turkish strait without incident, the crews erupted into cheers. Some were so overwhelmed with excitement and pride that they waved Ukrainian flags from their vessels, expressing their gratitude to the escorting fleet.
The captain of the central tugboat, a retired Ukrainian naval officer, finally allowed himself a satisfied smile as he lit a cigarette. This operation had been a decisive victory for the Russian-Ukrainian joint fleet—without firing a single shell or missile.
With the successful passage of the Ukrainian tugboats, war correspondents onshore quickly sent their exclusive footage back to their news agencies.
This was a massive international event—guaranteed to dominate the headlines the next day!
The following morning, news and photos of the Ukrainian and Russian joint fleet escorting the Varyag through the Turkish Strait were prominently featured on the front pages of major newspapers worldwide, causing a huge international sensation.
…
(End of Chapter)