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Ukrainian Navy Commander Outlined Two Objectives in Sea War Against russia

Ukrainian Navy servicemen received training from UK marines at operating Sandown-class minehunter ships. The photo shows an episode of such training in summer 2022 / Photo credit: UK Ministry of Defense
Ukrainian Navy servicemen received training from UK marines at operating Sandown-class minehunter ships. The photo shows an episode of such training in summer 2022 / Photo credit: UK Ministry of Defense
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Despite constrained naval capabilities, the Ukrainian armed forces, supported by the UK and other allies, are engaged in a David versus Goliath-style operation against russia's substantially larger Black Sea Fleet in and around occupied Crimea. Their efforts have resulted in the destruction of ships, infrastructure, and even the successful targeting of a submarine

Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa said in a wide-ranging interview to Sky News, that the sea war has two goals - to stop the russian navy from being able to attack Ukraine and to enable ships to access Ukrainian ports.

Vice Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Defense Express
Vice Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy / screenshot of Sky News video

The UK, US and other allies only agreed to start giving Ukraine longer-range missiles last year. Ukrainian forces have used them to hit targets in russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

Read more: Ukraine's Hit Onto 'Rostov Na Donu' Submarine is a Unique and Unprecedented Event in History

The head of the Ukrainian navy emphasized that it is important for Ukraine to have such military capabilities so that russia would even reconsider looking in its direction.

Defense Express
Two vessels of the russian military fleet, the Rostov Na Donu submarine and the Minsk dock landing ship, have been damaged by fire after a missile attack on a Sevastopol shipyard / Open source photo

"We must have the capabilities to make sure that russia will give up forever the thought of even looking in Ukraine's direction, including at sea," Vice Admiral Neizhpapa said.

According to the publication, very little is known in public about the secret operations conducted by Ukraine's military, with support from western allies, against the russian navy, but they involve a range of different modes of attack, including underwater drones, western missiles and even jet skis.

The return of the Boyko Towers under Ukrainian control is a painful blow to the influence of the aggressor state in the Black Sea

"Our successes during 2022 and 2023 were a result of difficult but innovative decisions, which did not exist before," the naval commander said.

Moskva cruiser, Defense Express
Moskva cruiser after it was hit with Neptune cruise missiles of the Ukrainian Navy / Open source photo

According to him, in modern warfare, the advantage lies with those who have superior technological capabilities.

"The enemy is adapting, and we must also adapt. A modern war is a war of technologies. Whoever wins in the technological sense will have victory," Neizhpapa said.

As indicated in the publication, the ability to use long-range Western weapons, such as the British Storm Shadow missile or the American Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), against military targets inside russia could assist Ukraine.

Storm Shadow missile / Illustrative photo credit: MBDA

Asked whether he believed Ukraine could win the war faster if given such permission, the commander said: "Of course, the sooner the armed forces have the necessary battle capabilities and certain capabilities to destroy the enemy's infrastructure facilities, the sooner we will win."

Read more: ​The Defense Intelligence Commander: We Outsmarted the Entire russian Fleet