How Ukraine is Destroying Russia's Black Sea Fleet

While the battlefield stalemate in Russia’s war against Ukraine has allowed the deadliest conflict since World War II to fade from the headlines, Ukrainian military strategists have quietly dealt devastating blows to Russia’s Black Sea fleet — without a single warship to their name.

Russia’s vaunted naval forces have dominated maritime civilian and military activity in the Black Sea since Crimea became the southern pillar of the Imperial Russian Navy in 1783.

But in less than two years of fierce defiance of the Kremlin invasion, Ukraine has destroyed or disabled half of the Black Sea Fleet, deflected Kremlin attempts to land troops and armor onto Ukrainian shores, chased Russian naval commanders from their base in Sevastopol and inspired allies to envision a path to victory for the underdog defenders.

Western intelligence and defense analysts have documented the systematic withering of Russia’s southern navy. The loss of four of the Kremlin’s most powerful warships and destruction of vessels on the high seas, in ports, and in shipyards has allowed Ukraine to regain control of safe shipping lanes for vital grain exports, restoring an important economic lifeline and delivering sustenance to millions living in famine-struck regions of the developing world.

https://www.postalley.org/2024/02/12/how-ukraine-is-destroying-russias-black-sea-fleet/