Ukrainian Navy

This article is currently affected by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Any given information provided here may become quickly dated or inaccurate due to the developing situation. Be aware that truly accurate information may not be available until the war is over. If a ship was confirmed to have been lost in combat, PLEASE move it HERE.

Ukrainian Naval Forces
Військово-морські сили Збройних сил України, ВМС ЗСУ
Emblem of the Ukrainian Naval Forces
Active	1917–1921 1992–present
Country	Ukraine
Type	Navy
Role	Naval warfare
Size	15,000 (2022)[1]
Part of	Armed Forces of Ukraine
Garrison/HQ	Odesa
Colors	Blue   Gold
March	March of the VMS of Ukraine (Марш ВМС України)[2]
Anniversaries	Navy Day[3][4][5][6]
Battle honours	Ukrainian–Soviet War Anti Piracy operation in Somalia Russo-Ukrainian War
Website	navy.mil.gov.ua/en/
Commanders
Commander	Vice Admiral[7] Oleksiy Neizhpapa[8]
Insignia
Ensign
Jack
Pennant
Shoulder sleeve insignia[a]

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The Ukrainian Navy (Ukrainian: Військо́во-морські́ си́ли Збро́йних сил Украї́ни, ВМС ЗСУ, romanized: Viiskovo–morski syly Zbroinykh syl Ukrainy, VMS ZSU, lit. 'Military Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine') is the maritime forces of Ukraine and one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The naval forces consist of five components – surface forces, submarine forces, naval aviation, coastal rocket-artillery and naval infantry.^[9] In 2022, the Ukrainian navy had 15,000 personnel, including 6,000 naval infantry.^[1]

The headquarters of the Ukrainian Naval Forces was, until the 2014 Crimean crisis, located at Sevastopol in Crimea.^[9] The naval forces were highly affected by the Crimean crisis, as the majority of their units were stationed there. Ships that did not escape or were not deployed at the time lowered their flags and were interned. Russia began a process of returning the vessels but stopped, citing the inability of Ukraine to retake possession and alleged violence against Russians in the Donbas.^{[citation needed]} The ships that were returned were the older models of the fleet which were deemed obsolete. For example, Russia chose not to return the corvettes Ternopil and Lutsk, both of which were some of the newest ships of the Ukrainian fleet. However, none of the Ukrainian naval units retained were absorbed into the Russian Navy.^{[clarification needed]}

Ukraine had been scheduling to rebuild its naval forces since 2005^[10][11] by building the domestic project 58250, the first Ukrainian designed and built corvette, as well as ordering four patrol boats in 2013 from Willard Marine.^[12][13] Ukraine has also restarted the production of its Gryuza River Armed Artillery Boat.^[14]

The navy previously operated in the Black Sea basin (including the Sea of Azov and Danube Delta). However, Russia has since gained complete control of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea during the ongoing colfict.^[9] Distant operations of the Ukrainian Navy are limited to multinational activities, such as Operation Active Endeavour and Operation Atalanta in the Mediterranean and Horn of Africa.

The Ukrainian flagship was scuttled in March 2022 during Russia's invasion to prevent its capture, and Russia's navy blocked Ukraine's access to the Black Sea.^[15] This was overcome by using sea drones.^[16][17]

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