How the Ukrainians – with no navy – defeated Russia’s Black Sea Fleet

Since the Russian invasion began in 2022, Ukraine has successfully resisted its opponents on many fronts, but its most surprising success came in a theater where few expected Ukraine to prevail: the Black Sea.

In 2022, the consensus among military analysts was that Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s military would most likely crush Ukrainian forces in the air, on land and at sea. With a vast infusion of financial assistance and weapons from the U.S. and Western nations, Ukraine has, however, fought Russia to a standstill on land. On the sea, the Ukrainians have had greater success and have launched a revolution in weapons and tactics that offer both lessons and warnings for the world’s navies. COL Randall C. Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC Eugene Chu MSgt Steve Sweeney MSG Stan Hutchison MSgt Michael Bischoff SSgt Richard Kensinger 1SG (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) CPL LaForest Gray SrA John Monette