Prior to russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, russia’s leadership almost certainly perceived the russian Navy and the Black Sea Fleet as integral components of their maritime power. After three years of war, russia’s naval capabilities in the Black Sea have been significantly constrained through highly effective Ukrainian operations, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Pre-invasion, the Ukrainian Navy was vastly outnumbered by the Black Sea Fleet and limited to a small number of major warships and coastal defense vessels. Throughout the conflict, the Ukrainian Navy has been unable to operate conventionally in the Black Sea. However, since February 24, 2022, Ukrainian forces have destroyed or damaged at least 24 russian vessels operating in the Black Sea. This includes the sinking of the Black Sea Fleet flagship, the Moskva Slava-class cruiser, which had previously been described as a cutting-edge air defense platform.
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As a result, russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been forced to move all of its major assets from its historic base in Sevastopol to Novorossiysk in the Eastern Black Sea. Russian units operating in the region have also been forced to adapt their tactics and change the areas in which they operate. Despite russia’s Black Sea Fleet currently being limited to the Eastern Black Sea, it retains the ability to conduct long range strikes into Ukraine in support of land operations.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: Ukraine Holds Up to 450 sq km in Kursk, Disputing Putin’s Claims
