Ukrainian Navy
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The Ukrainian Naval Force (Ukrainian: Військово-Морські Сили України, ВМСУ, Viys’kovo-Mors’ki Syly Ukrayiny, VMSU) is the navy of Ukraine and part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was established in 1992. It consists of 5 branches: surface forces, submarine forces, Navy aviation, coast rocket-artillery and marines.[1] The Navy numbers 15,470 people.[2]
The navy operates in the Black Sea basin (including Sea of Azov and Danube Delta)[1], as a permanent ocean presence is neither logistically practical nor geographically possible. Hence it is a green-water navy.
The Headquarters of the Ukrainian Naval Force is situated in Sevastopol.[1]
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[edit] History
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[edit] Early History
.svg/180px-Naval_Ensign_of_Ukraine_(dress).svg.png)
Ukrainian Navy EnsignThe first naval activities of the Ukrainians date back to the late Middle Ages, when Zaporizhian Host Cossacks conducted raids in the Lower Dnieper, Southern Buh rivers and the Black Sea against Ottoman Empire. Cossacks were using chaikas - light vessels propelled by sail and rowing, and armed with light hand held cannons. By a simple but genius technology, chaika could be transformed into a makeshift shallow-waters submarine used for reconnaissance and surprise landings. Cossack sea raids delivered huge blows to Ottoman coast cities, including capital port city of Istanbul. However, Cossacks never had either permanent ports on coast or will to become a sea power.
During 1917 Russian Revolution, several ships of the Imperial Navy's Black Sea Fleet, commanded and crewed by ethnic Ukrainians, declared themselves a Navy of the newly-autonomous Ukrainian People's Republic. However, few further steps on establishing a navy have been made as Ukrainian government lost control over coastal territories.
[edit] Establishment of the modern Ukrainian navy
The immediate history of the Ukrainian Naval Force started on August 1, 1992 when it was formally established by order of the President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk. This was followed by a long and controversial partition of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet between Ukraine and newly-independent Russian Federation.
One of the brightest episodes of this process was the story of the SKR-112 - practically the first Ukrainian navy ship. The crew of SKR-112 declared itself Ukrainian ship and raised the Ukrainian flag. The Russian-dominated fleet headquarters in Moscow considered this a mutiny and attempted to act accordingly. But the ship left its base for Odessa, causing an armed chase and collision attempts by the ships still loyal to Moscow. Soon several other ships, auxiliary vessels, and coastal units of the Black Sea Fleet followed SKR-112's decision but with less violent outcomes.
It was only in 1997 when the ships and equipment of the Black Sea Fleet were officially divided between two countries. The new Russian formation retained its historical name "Black Sea Fleet". It was also granted with rights to use the majority of its bases in Ukraine on rent until 2017. The newfound Ukrainian Navy received dozens of vessels (mostly obsolete or defunct) and some base infrastructure. However, the Russian fleet has lost several important facilities, most notably the Nitka naval aviation Training Ground in the central Crimea and the special forces base in Ochakiv. The process of fleet division is not yet complete since many aspects of two navies co-existence are under regulated, causing recurring conflicts.
[edit] Aircraft inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot |  Soviet Union |
attack | Su-25 | 8 | |
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum | Soviet Union |
fighter | Mig-29 | 13 | |
| Antonov An-26 Curl | Soviet Union |
Transport | An-26 | 7 | |
| Mil Mi-8 Hip | Soviet Union |
Transport Helicopter | Mi-8 | 8 | |
| Mil Mi-14 Haze | Soviet Union |
anti-submarine Helicopter | Mi-14PL | 5 | |
| Kamov Ka-29 | Soviet Union |
Assault transport helicopter | Ka-29 | 16 | |
| Kamov Ka-27 Helix | Soviet Union |
anti-submarine Helicopter | Ka-27/-28 | 21 |
 Ukrainian Navy Ka-27 |
 Ukrainian Navy Mi-14PL |
 Ukrainian Navy Su-25 |
 Ukrainian Navy Mig-29 |
 Ukrainian Navy Mig-29 |
[edit] Current role
The Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is aimed at defense of sovereignty and state interests of Ukraine in the sea. It is required to neutralize naval groups of the enemy in its operational zone alone and with other branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, provide assistance to the Ground Forces during their operations from the sea. Main tasks of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are:[1]
- creation and maintenance of the combat powers on the level, sufficient to detain sea aggression;
- neutralization of the enemy naval forces;
- destruction of enemy transportation;
- support in landing of amphibious forces and fight against enemy amphibious forces;
- maintaining of beneficial operational regime in the operational zone;
- defense of its bases, sea communications;
- protection of submarine space within the territorial sea;
- protection of merchant fleet, sea oil and gas industry and other state activity in the sea;
- assistance to the Army in their conduct of operations (military actions) at sea directions;
- participation in peacekeeping operations.
[edit] Recent deployments
[edit] Major Ships and Vessels
The Navy in 2000 consisted of 4 Corvette, 3 Frigates, 1 Submarine, 26 auxiliary ships, and 35 naval aircraft[3], including:
- Hetman Sahaydachniy (a Krivak III class frigate, with two designated helicopters)
- Sevastopol (a Krivak II class frigate)
- Zaporizhzhia (a Foxtrot class submarine)
- Lutsk (a Grisha V class corvette)
- Kostiantyn Olshansky {a large Amphibious assault ship}
- Ternopil (a Grisha V class)
- Kremenets (a rescue ship)
- U 510 Slavutych (a command ships)
- Kirovohrad {a medium Amphibious assault ship}
[edit] Command, Control & Organisation
[edit] Commanders
The Commandant of the Navy since March 23, 2006 is Vice Admiral Igor Tenyuh.
| Name | Rank | Period of command |
|---|---|---|
| Borys Kozhin | Vice Admiral | April 7, 1992 - October 1993 |
| Volodymyr Bezkorovainiy | Vice Admiral | October 1993 - October 1996 |
| Mykhailo Ezhel | Admiral | October 28, 1996 - May 20, 2003 |
| Ihor Kniaz | Vice Admiral | May 21, 2003 - March 23, 2006 |
| Igor Tenyuh | Vice Admiral | March 23, 2006 - present |
[edit] Ranks and insignia
[edit] Bases
The main base of the Ukrainian Navy is located in Sevastopol[1]. Other bases are:
[edit] See also
[edit] References and External links
- (English)/(Ukrainian) Navy page on the official site of the Ministry of Defence: in English, in Ukrainian
- (English) World Navies Today: Ukraine (full unofficial list of vessels with descriptions, as of March 2002; no images)
- (Russian) Photogallery of Ukrainian Navy vessels (most vessels available, with board numbers, no detailed descriptions)
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