Everyone is familiar with the dramatic episodes of the naval war that has become an integral part of Ukraine’s broader struggle against Russian aggression. Not only Ukrainians but people around the world know where the Russian warship was famously told to go. The liberation of Snake Island, the recapture of the so-called Boyko Towers, and the sinking of the Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship, the cruiser Moskva, have become defining moments of the war. These are remarkable achievements and a source of justified pride for Ukraine.
Yet beyond these headline-grabbing operations lies a larger story: how modern, technology-driven warfare is reshaping the maritime domain and how the Ukrainian Navy has adapted to confront a vastly superior adversary in the Black Sea. To explore this broader picture, Ukrinform spoke with Captain First Rank Andrii Ryzhenko, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Ukrinform: What was the condition of the Ukrainian Navy after the occupation of Crimea? What is the Navy’s primary mission?
Andrii Ryzhenko: I remember that period very well—2014 and the occupation of Crimea. Russia acted suddenly, and we were completely unprepared to resist, especially from a psychological standpoint. We had prepared for many different contingencies, but we had entirely ruled out the possibility that Russia itself could become the aggressor.
