In June 1993, the Russian General Staff warned of escalating tensions over the unresolved status of the Black Sea Fleet (ChF), driven by Ukraine's territorial claims over Crimea and control of fleet assets. Disputes over the division of the fleet and its infrastructure, compounded by Ukrainian efforts to assert authority over ChF personnel and facilities, risked destabilizing regional security. The memo advised that Russia should push firmly for joint control of fleet infrastructure and, if necessary, question Crimea's 1954 transfer to Ukraine, while using diplomatic efforts to highlight the risks of ongoing deadlock.