CIMSEC – Being without a Navy, fortunately, does not mean that there is no seapower acting in Ukraine’s interest, or that there are no naval lessons or innovations coming from this terrible and hopefully short conflict. From Maine to Majorca, Turkey to Panama, a distributed network of international maritime actors has emerged in response to Russian aggression. It manifests a theory that was developed 17 years ago — the “1,000 Ship Navy” (TSN).

CIMSEC – To deny sea control to the Russians, Ukraine needs sea mines, coastal defense cruise missiles, and scouting assets, such as fast patrol boats and drones. These systems have a symbiotic relationship in layered defense. Mines slow down the adversary; during clearance operations, CDCMs have an opportunity to engage the slowed vessels; and scouting assets support maritime domain awareness for over the horizon targeting. NATO should rush these weapons to support Ukraine’s defense.

Maritime Executive – Ukraine’s military claims to have hit a Russian patrol ship with a shore-based rocket attack, marking the first reported casualty for a Russian Navy vessel since the start of the invasion in February. The vessel has been tentatively identified as the Vasily Bykov, the lead ship of the lightly-armed Project 22160 class of patrol vessels, and the extent of the damage is unknown. 

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – As Russia continues its advance on Ukraine’s southern Black Sea-facing flank, it appears that the Ukrainian Navy is taking no chances in providing Moscow with a major battlefield trophy — the flagship of its fleet, the Hetman Sahaidachny (U130). 

Naval News – Tension between Ukraine and Russia (behind closed doors, NATO and Russia) is rising day by day. Both sides’ words and moves exacerbate the potential for a conflict. While the Black Sea is on the verge of witnessing high intensity combats for the first time in over a century, the most pressing question arises: Can Ukraine resist?

CNN – The question is whether new Ukrainian ships and infrastructure, plus warnings from the West, will be enough of a deterrent to Russia.

Navy Lookout – As part of the Ukrainian Naval Capabilities Enhancement Programme (UNCEP) agreement signed with the UK government in October 2020, Babcock will build at least one, probably two Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) for Ukraine at their Rosyth facility.

(Thanks to Alain)

Defense News – When Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, it absorbed land and people. But in the process, and with less attention, Russia also took 75 percent of Ukraine’s naval fleet, the majority of its helicopters and the bulk of the country’s ship repair capacity.

Defense News – A December 2020 deal between Turkey and Ukraine for the sale of an unknown batch of Turkish-built corvettes has turned out to involve two vessels.

(Thanks to Alain)

Defense News – The Ukrainian Navy has accepted delivery of the first Bayraktar TB2 drone from Turkish defense company Baykar, according to Ukraine’s Defence Ministry.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – New details on the Ukrainian navy’s future missile boats emerged from an interview given by British military attaché in Ukraine to the local news paper The Day.

Naval News – The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has ordered new Turkish-made corvettes and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) from Turkey. They are being procured for the Ukrainian Navy to enhance security in the Black and Azov Sea regions.

Defense News – Britain is stepping up its military support in Ukraine with an announcement that the U.K. will lead a multinational maritime initiative to train the Ukrainian navy.

– Defense News – Following a December 2018 incident at the mouth of the Sea of Azov between Russia and Ukrainian forces, the United States has accelerated its assistance to Ukraine’s maritime forces.

– Marine Link – The U.S. State Department approved the possible sale to Ukraine of up to 16 patrol boats and related equipment.

Thanks to Alain!

– BMPD – Ukrainian sources reported that on April 2, 2020, the Alibey State Testing Ground of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Odessa region tested the R-360 anti-ship missile of the developed Ukrainian anti-ship missile complex RK-360MTs Neptune with an active homing radar mounted on the rocket for the first time.

(Thanks to Alain)

– USNI News – Two former Coast Guard Island-class cutters arrived in Odessa, Ukraine, on Monday, as part of a program to beef up Ukraine’s navy with retired U.S. vessels.

– Breaking Defense – As tensions rise between Russia and Ukraine on the Black Sea, the US is upgrading several Ukrainian naval bases to give American and NATO warships the ability to dock just miles from Russia-controlled Crimea.

– USNI News – Russian maritime forces have fired on and seized three Ukrainian naval vessels that were attempting to sail from the Black Sea into the Sea of Azov.More than 20 Ukrainian sailors were also detained by Russians – several of them reportedly suffering injuries – after open hostilities erupted on Nov. 25 in the Kerch Strait, which separates Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula from mainland Russia.

– National Interest – This Russia conflict scenario would make operations in Syria look like a round of croquet.

– CIMSEC – Ukraine today, given the need of countering threats from the sea, is in a situation where the need for U.S. anti-ship missiles is much more important than obtaining Javelin ATGMs.

– Radio Free Europe – The Sea of Azov, a rich fishing ground in Soviet times that has been of great strategic importance to independent Ukraine, has emerged after months of growing friction as the latest flash point in the four-year conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.

– CIMSEC – The following two-part series will analyze the maritime dimension of competition between Ukraine and Russia in the Sea of Azov. Part 1 analyzed strategic interests, developments, and geography in the Sea of Azov along with probable Russian avenues of aggression. Part 2 will devise potential asymmetric naval capabilities and strategies for the Ukrainian Navy to employ.

– US Naval War College Review – This article examines the Ukrainian governments attempts to rebuild the Ukrainian navy and argues that, while Ukraine faces political, conceptual, and financial challenges in reviving its maritime power, it has made some modest progress toward building a “mosquito fleet.” This fleet has been bolstered by the addition of some small, new ships and the increasing professionalization of Ukraine’s naval personnel, in particular its marines. This progress suggests that Ukraine can go in a radically different direction as it redevelops its navy: toward coastal defense.

– CIMSEC – The following two-part series will analyze the maritime dimension of competition between Ukraine and Russia in the Sea of Azov. Part 1 analyzes strategic interests, developments, and geography in the Sea of Azov along with probably Russian avenues of aggression.