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Naval warfare in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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Ukrainian postage stamp, depicting a Ukrainian soldier giving Russian cruiser Moskva the finger, issued two days before she sank

Naval warfare in the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022, when the Russian Armed Forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. Media reporting of and focus on the invasion has largely been on the terrestrial and aerial aspects[1] – however, maritime engagements have been consequential during the conflict. Disputes over Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea have also played a significant role.[2][3]

Timeline

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2022

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Further information: 2022 Snake Island campaign

On 24 February 2022 – at the beginning of the invasion – the Russian Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport announced the suspension of maritime navigation in the Sea of Azov until further notice. The reason given was the commencement of "antiterrorist operations" by the Black Sea Fleet.[4] The following day, 25 February, the Russian Department of Navigation and Oceanography warned that navigation was prohibited in the north-west Black Sea north of 45° 21’ due to activities of the Russian Navy. The navigational warning issued noted that ships and vessels in the prohibited area will be regarded as "terrorist threats".[4]

On 28 February, Turkey closed the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits to warships of any country, as is its right under the Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits of 1936.[2]

On 8 March the Ukrainian armed forces stated they had sunk Vasily Bykov, which had attacked Snake Island, near Odesa. Videos posted on social media showed the warship being targeted.[5] However, on March 16 the ship was shown entering Sevastopol with no obvious damage.[6]

On 22 March 2022, a Raptor-class patrol boat was hit and damaged by an anti-tank guided missile.[7]

A Russian warship on fire near Berdiansk on 24 March 2022

On 24 March 2022, a number of ships docked in the port of Berdiansk, Ukraine, were damaged. The Tapir-class landing ship Saratov was destroyed. The Tsezar Kunikov and Novocherkassk sailed away, with fire and smoke billowing from one.[8][9][10]

On 3 March 2022, while at anchor, the MV Helt struck a free-floating mine in the Black Sea, south of Odesa, Ukraine.[11] The Helt was not carrying any cargo at the time, and according to the Ukrainian military, was forced into a dangerous area of the Black Sea.[12] The six crew onboard all managed to escape and were rescued by Ukrainian authorities.[13]

Drifting mines became a significant danger during the early phases of the invasion, with the NATO Allied Maritime Command issuing warnings about the devices, and their risk to shipping.[14]

2023

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Ukrainian "Sea Baby" naval drones in 2023

During the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive, Ukraine increased its use of naval drones. On 17 July 2023, Security Service of Ukraine used a naval drone to attack the Crimean Bridge, releasing footage of the incident.[15][16] On 4 August, the Olenegorsky Gornyak was attacked by naval drones during the night, near the Russian port of Novorossiysk, leaving the ship listing heavily to port.[17]

The Russian Defence Ministry said that three Ukrainian naval drones were destroyed on 1 and 2 September 2023, while attempting to crash into the Crimean Bridge.[18]

On 11 September 2023, Ukrainian military intelligence claimed that special forces had recovered several oil and gas drilling platforms off the Crimean coast that had been occupied and fortified by Russia since 2015. Among the facilities retaken were the Boyko Towers platforms and the 'Tavryda' and 'Syvash' mobile rigs following clashes during which a Russian Su-30 fighter jet, according to Ukrainian sources, tried to sink the assault boats with various weapons. Initially it was shot at with "service weapons" until it was reportedly struck by a Ukrainian MANPAD, damaging it and forcing it to retreat. Ukrainian forces also seized helicopter ammunition and a Neva radar system from the sites.[19]

Also in September 2023, commercial vessels resumed their usage of the Ukrainian port of Odesa without asking permission from Russia – for the first time since the invasion began.[20]

Black Sea Grain Initiative

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The Black Sea Grain Initiative was effective from 22 July 2022 to 17 July 2023, and guaranteed the safe passage of grain via ships from certain Ukrainian ports.[21]

Following the end of the period during which the Black Sea Grain Initiative was in effect, the Russian Defence Ministry said that it would deem all ships travelling to Ukraine to be potentially carrying military cargo.[22] In the same statement, Russia declared south-eastern and north-western parts of the Black Sea to be temporarily unsafe for navigation.[23]

Losses

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Further information: List of ship losses during the Russo-Ukrainian War § Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022-present)

The Russian Navy has lost eleven ships and submarines, including the Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, with a further five confirmed damaged.[24] The Ukrainian Navy has lost nine ships, with a further one damaged, and seventeen captured.[25]

December 26, 2023, Ukraine's Air Force struck the Novocherkassk, a major Russian landing craft, while docked in Feodosia, southern Crimea. The attack, reportedly by air-launched cruise missiles, caused multiple explosions and fire, hinting that munitions aboard were detonated by the attack (Ukraine said the ship had launched cruise missiles against Ukrainian cities), Russian authorities and media confirmed the attack. Ukraine said the ship was destroyed—unlikely to return to service.[26][27][28] Though Russian authorities did not confirm the ship's loss, they said one person had been killed (other sources indicated more), and said two attacking aircraft were downed. Independent analysts said the damage significantly hampers future Russian attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea coast.[26][27][28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Russo-Ukrainian War at Sea: Retrospect and Prospect". War on the Rocks. 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  2. ^ a b Mongilio, Heather (28 February 2022). "Turkey Closes Bosphorus, Dardanelles Straits to Warships". USNI News.
  3. ^ Gatopoulos, Alex. "The Battle for the Black Sea". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  4. ^ a b Pedrozo, Raul (Pete) (25 August 2023). "Russia-Ukraine War at Sea: Naval Blockades, Visit and Search, and Targeting War-Sustaining Objects". Articles of War.
  5. ^ "Ukrainians sink Russian warship that attacked Snake Island – report". The Time of Israel. 9 March 2022. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  6. ^ "The Curious Case Of Russia's Back From The Dead Warship". The Drive. 16 March 2022. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  7. ^ "https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1506229325598756872". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-09-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  8. ^ Newdick, Thomas (2022-03-24). "Russian Landing Ship Destroyed In Massive Explosion In Captured Ukrainian Port City". The Drive. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  9. ^ Coleman, Julie. "Video shows 2 Russian warships escaping as Ukrainian missiles blast a docked ship". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  10. ^ "Russian warship destroyed in occupied port of Berdyansk, says Ukraine". BBC News. 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  11. ^ "Ukraine: Estonian cargo ship sinks after blast in Black Sea". BBC News. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  12. ^ ERR, ERR News | (2022-03-03). "Estonian-owned cargo ship sinks off Odesa after Russian action". ERR. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  13. ^ Saul, Jonathan; Paul, Ruma (2022-03-03). "Two cargo ships hit by blasts around Ukraine, one seafarer killed". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  14. ^ "RISK OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN THE NORTH WESTERN, WESTERN, AND SOUTHWEST BLACK SEA". NATO Allied Maritime Command. 28 February 2023.
  15. ^ Edwards, Josh Pennington,Alex Stambaugh,Brad Lendon,Christian (2023-07-17). "Ukraine claims responsibility for new attack on key Crimea bridge". CNN. Retrieved 2023-09-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Davey-Attlee, Nick Paton Walsh,Victoria Butenko,Florence (2023-08-16). "The moment Ukraine used an experimental drone to attack a Russian bridge". CNN. Retrieved 2023-09-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Audacious Ukrainian sea drone attack at Novorossiysk leaves Russian warship listing badly". Yahoo News. 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  18. ^ "Russia says Ukraine sea drones destroyed in failed attack on Crimea bridge". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  19. ^ Kelsey Vlamis (12 September 2023). "Dramatic video shows Ukrainian special forces battling a Russian Su-30 from small boats at sea. Kyiv's forces say they scored a hit, forcing the jet to flee". Business Insider. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  20. ^ Trofimov, Yaroslav (2023-09-20). "Ukrainian Tactics Put Russia on the Defensive in the Black Sea". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  21. ^ "Joint Coordination Centre opens in Istanbul to facilitate safe export of commercial foodstuffs and fertilizers from Ukrainian ports - Türkiye | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  22. ^ "Russia threatens civilian vessels in Black Sea, Ukraine says". Reuters. 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  23. ^ "Russia and Ukraine warn each other travelling ships part of war". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  24. ^ Oryx. "Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  25. ^ Oryx. "Attack On Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine". Oryx. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  26. ^ a b Osborn, Andrew and Max Hunder: "Ukraine strikes Russian naval landing warship, Moscow admits damage,", December 26, 2023, Reuters; video and transcript on YouTube; also at NBC News as "Ukraine strikes Russian naval landing warship in Crimea," retrieved December 26, 2023
  27. ^ a b Dorgan, Michael: "Ukraine missile attack strikes Russian warship in Crimea, killing at least 1: The landing ship, called Novocherkassk, was hit at a base in the city of Feodosia by plane-launched guided missiles, the Russian ministry said," December 26, 2023, Fox News, retrieved December 26, 2023
  28. ^ a b Lovett, Ian: "Ukraine Strikes Russian Warship in Crimea, in Another Blow to Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet: Kyiv shows it can land blows deep behind Russian lines as the ground war edges toward stalemate,", December 26, 2023, Wall Street Journal, retrieved December 26, 2023
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