Ukrainian Navy - Modernization
According to a list reported by the oryxspioenkop Blog, by 19 March 2022 a total of 13 Ukrainian Naval Ships had been destroyed or captured by the Russian armed forces. The Krivak III class frigate was scuttled to prevent capture by Russia.
On 14 March 2022, the Russian source RT reported that Russia had captured about a dozen Ukrainian ships in Berdyansk. The vessels reported as captured included two Gyurza-M-class artillery vessels (including the vessel Akkerman), the Matka-class missile boat Pryluky, a Project 1124P (Grisha II)-class corvette, a Zhuk-class patrol boat, a Yevgenya-class minesweeper, the Polnocny-class landing ship Yuri Olefirenko and an Ondatra-class landing craft.
The Ukrainian ship Yuri Olefirenko managed to escape the Russian artillery along the Bugsko-Dneprovsko-Limansky Canal near the port of Ochakov in Mykolaiv region on June 3, 2022. The images of the dramatic escape, thanks to a maneuver by the commander, dating back to June 3, would have been disseminated by Russian sources. And they would have been shot by a drone used to spy on enemy artillery. It is not known for sure what happened to Yuri Olefirenko. But according to Naval News, the video shows no direct hits against the ship nor does it show the sinking ship. If, on the other hand, the Russians had managed to sink it, then they would certainly have proved it.
Even though the Ukrainian navy is much smaller than that of the enemy, Kiev has nonetheless found a way to counter Russia's naval dominance, both through the Bayraktar TB-2 drones and the land anti-ship. Precisely what allowed them to destroy the Russian cruiser Moskva, which was hit by Neptune missiles on 13 April.
The US agreed 23 June 2022 to provide a total of 18 patrol boats, slightly different vessels. Two of them are small unit riverine craft, 35 feet. Six of them are maritime combat craft, 40 foot patrol boats. And then 10 of them are medium force protection patrol boats, these are 34 foot Sea Ark Dauntless class patrol boats. So slightly different variety within the overall 18 boat package. The word riverine indicates these are largely to protect the river ways and to enable Ukraine to maintain its control of the river ways. They can also be used in close-in coastal areas, but the river piece was the initial impetus. These coastal and riverine patrol boats are essentially useful in patrolling the rivers of Ukraine. In terms of defending the Black Sea coast, including the Port of Odessa, this is where coastal defense capabilities are vital.
Since the beginning of the war in 2014, much attention had been paid to river communications, but the main focus has been on the Danube and the Bug-Dnieper-Estuary Canal, which are located close to the southern borders. However, the large-scale invasion of Russia has made its adjustments in the use of forces that are part of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Commander of the National Fleet, Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, said "The situation itself dictated new requirements and forced us to look not only at the river arteries in the south, but also in the north of our country. Therefore, on the initiative and with the support of the Land Forces Command, we jointly formed a division of river boats in the north of the Dnieper - the main logistics artery of Ukraine, which we can not afford to lose".
According to the Commander of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the formation of the river division began in March 2022. Since then, the military has managed to solve many problematic issues. In particular, it is about, in fact, the ship's warehouse itself, which was to be included in the newly created division and its equipment for the military.
One of the new potential components of the Ukrainian Navy was corvettes built in Turkey to order in Ukraine. However, according to the former deputy commander of the Ukrainian Navy, it is impossible to use them today due to the large number of weapons that Russia has accumulated in the Black Sea region. If Turkey completes them, let it be better to keep them, some say.
Now Ukraine needs to take as much as possible ready ships from partners - they must ensure the protection and unblocking of ports, the fight against DRG and mines and minimally oppose the enemy's fleet and aircraft. During a full-scale war, Ukrainian enterprises can be repaired and small components built for the fleet, and after the war it will be possible to think about building at least boats.
For example, in December 2021 the French company OSEA and the Ukrainian enterprise NIBULON signed the contract for construction in Nikolaev of five vessels for needs of SBGS. It was also planned to build British Babcock missile boats in Ukraine.
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