Sailors

In the Crimean War, the Russian Navy scuttled several line-of-battle ships at the entrance to the harbor of Sevastapol. This was done to keep the opposing naval forces out.  The cannon from the ships were brought ashore and used to defend the city. (This is why The Sebastopol Sketches, Tolstoy's on-the-scenes narration of the city's siege, lacks ships but has sailors everywhere.) While this might have helped extend the war, the outcome was not in doubt.

When the Russians do it AGAIN, then, it doesn't inspire admiration for a rousing strategic counter thrust. Really, it can make one wonder what historical point they are trying to make. Even if it seems to be a good idea, isn't it tempting fate a bit?