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 Stamp of Ukraine s1985.jpg
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]

Contents

Timeline

2022

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 Bilia portu Berdians'ka ZSU znishchili rosiis'kii desantnii korabel' <<Saratov>>.jpg
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

Ukrainian "Sea Baby" naval drones in 2023 Ukrainian marine drones.jpg
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

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

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Sea Fleet</span> Russian naval unit

The Black Sea Fleet is the fleet of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Mediterranean Sea. The Black Sea Fleet, along with other Russian ground and air forces on the Crimean Peninsula, are subordinate to the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces. The fleet traces its history to its founding by Prince Potemkin on 13 May 1783 as part of the Imperial Russian Navy. The Russian SFSR inherited the fleet in 1918; with the founding of the Soviet Union in 1922, it became part of the Soviet Navy. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Black Sea Fleet was partitioned between the Russian Federation and Ukraine in 1997, with Russia receiving title to 82% of the vessels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ukrainian Navy</span> Naval warfare branch of the armed forces of Ukraine

The Ukrainian Navy is the maritime forces of Ukraine and one of the eight service branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ropucha-class landing ship Russian Navy class of landing ships

The Ropucha class, Soviet designation Project 775, is a class of landing ship built in Poland for the Soviet Navy. The ships were built in the Stocznia Północna shipyards in Gdańsk, Poland. They were designed for beach landings, and can carry 450 tons of cargo. The ships have both bow and stern doors for loading and unloading vehicles, and the 630 square metres (6,800 sq ft) of vehicle deck stretch the length of the hull. Up to 25 armored personnel carriers can be embarked.

Russian cruiser <i>Moskva</i> Guided missile cruiser in service from 1983 to 2022

Moskva, formerly Slava, was a guided missile cruiser of the Russian Navy. Commissioned in 1983, she was the lead ship of the Project 1164 Atlant class, named after the city of Moscow. With a crew of 510, Moskva was the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet and the most powerful warship in the region.

Russian ship <i>Tsezar Kunikov</i> Project 775 landing ship

Tsezar Kunikov (BDK-64), sometimes anglicised as Caesar Kunikov, was a Project 775, large landing ship of the Russian Navy. The ship was built in Polish People's Republic, launched in 1986 and named after Soviet Naval Infantry officer Tsezar Kunikov. As part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, it took part in the KFOR mission, the Russo-Georgian War, the Syrian Civil War, and the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Tapir-class landing ship Class of Soviet/Russian/Ukrainian landing ships

The Tapir-class landing ship, Soviet designation Project 1171 landing ship is a class of Soviet/Russian general purpose, beachable amphibious warfare ships.

Project 22160 patrol ship Russian patrol ship

Project 22160 is a series of large patrol ships being constructed for the Russian Navy. The vessels are primarily intended for duties such as patrol, monitoring and protection in open and closed seas. The first ship was laid down in February 2014 and joined the Russian Navy in December 2018. By January 2018, six ships were under construction. Between 2017 and 2022, four ships had been launched.

Russian frigate <i>Admiral Makarov</i> Frigate of the Admiral Grigorovich class

Admiral Makarov is an Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate of the Russian Navy, part of the Black Sea Fleet based at Sevastopol. She was laid down at the Yantar Shipyard in February 2012 and commissioned on 25 December 2017. She is the most recently built of her class, and the third of six ships that had been planned in the class as of November 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sevastopol Naval Base</span> Russian-controlled naval base in occupied Crimea

The Sevastopol Naval Base is an occupied naval base located in Sevastopol, in the disputed Crimean Peninsula. The base is used by the Russian Navy, and it is the main base of the Black Sea Fleet. Internationally it's recognised as Ukrainian land under Russian occupation.

Russian submarine <i>B-237</i> Russian Kilo-class attack submarine

Rostov-na-Donu (B-237) is an improved Kilo–class attack submarine of the Russian Navy, built in 2014. It became part of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snake Island campaign</span> Campaign in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Snake Island campaign was a period of Russian occupation and military conflict for Snake Island, a small, strategically located Ukrainian island in the Black Sea. On 24 February 2022, the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Navy attacked Snake Island and captured it along with its entire garrison, beginning a military occupation of the island. The attack was widely publicized when an audio clip of the Russian cruiser Moskva hailing the island's garrison over the radio demanding their surrender and being told "Russian warship, go fuck yourself" in response went viral, along with initial inaccurate reports of the garrison's deaths. Later on, it emerged that a civilian search and rescue ship trying to evacuate the soldiers was also captured along with the garrison. The ship, its crew, and at least one soldier were subsequently freed in prisoner exchanges.

Russian patrol ship <i>Vasily Bykov</i> Patrol ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet

Vasily Bykov is a project 22160 patrol ship of the Russian Navy, of which it was the first ship built. It was laid down on 26 February 2014 on the Zelenodolsk Shipyard at Zelenodolsk in Tatarstan, Russia, and launched on 28 August 2017. Vasily Bykov was commissioned on 20 December 2018 in the Novorossiysk Naval Base at Novorossiysk, becoming part of the Black Sea Fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Berdiansk port attack</span> 2022 missile strike during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Berdiansk port attack was a strike carried out by Ukrainian forces against Russian Navy ships moored in the Port of Berdiansk on 24 March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Alligator-class landing ship Saratov was sunk, and one of the two Ropucha-class landing ships took damage but was able to leave the port.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odesa strikes (2022–present)</span> Battle in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

During the southern Ukraine offensive of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the city of Odesa and the surrounding region have been the target of shelling and air strikes by Russian forces on multiple occasions since the conflict began, fired predominantly from Russian warships situated offshore in the Black Sea. The city has also been targeted by Russian cruise missiles.

Russian landing ship <i>Novocherkassk</i> Russian Navy landing ship

Novocherkassk (BDK-46) was a Ropucha-class landing ship of the Russian Navy and part of the Black Sea Fleet. Named after Russian city of Novocherkassk, the ship was built in Poland and launched in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crimea attacks (2022–present)</span> Part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Beginning in July 2022, a series of explosions and fires occurred on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula, from where the Russian Army had launched its offensive on Southern Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Occupied since 2014, Crimea was a base for the subsequent Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast and Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerial warfare in the Russian invasion of Ukraine</span>

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, aerial warfare took place as early as the dawn of 24 February 2022, with Russian infantry and armored divisions entering into Eastern Ukraine with air support. Dozens of missile attacks were reported across Ukraine. The main infantry and tank attacks were launched in four spearhead incursions, creating a northern front launched towards Kyiv, a southern front originating in Crimea, a south-eastern front launched at the cities of Luhansk and Donbas, and an eastern front. Dozens of missile strikes across Ukraine also reached as far west as Lviv. Drones have also been a critical part of the invasion, particularly in regards to combined arms warfare. Drones have additionally been employed by Russia in striking Ukrainian critical infrastructure, and have been used by Ukraine to strike military infrastructure in Russian territory.

Russian landing ship <i>Olenegorsky Gornyak</i> Ropucha class landing ship of the Russian Navy

Olenegorsky Gornyak, formerly known as BDK-91, is a Project 775, Ropucha-class landing ship of the Russian Navy. Landing ships launch amphibious forces close to shore, and can dock and quickly unload cargo.

MAGURA V5 is a Ukrainian multi-purpose unmanned surface vehicle (USV) developed for use by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) capable of performing various tasks: surveillance, reconnaissance, patrolling, search and rescue, mine countermeasures, maritime security, and combat missions.

References

  1. ↑ "The Russo-Ukrainian War at Sea: Retrospect and Prospect". War on the Rocks. 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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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