UPDATED: Started Feb 22 2023
Timeline of 2022 Ukraine Invasion: War In The Black Sea
Reflecting on the first year of the war, I am putting together a timeline of the most relevant events in the Black Sea. This will not be exhaustive, but should provide a useful overview. Hopefully this will be of benefit to those interested in studying the war at a later date.
If I have missed anything significant please let me know. The usual caveats apply
Build -up phase
Jan-Feb 2022: Russia builds up a force in the Mediterranean. Under Russian doctrine this is to counter the NATO presence there and deter intervention.
Jan: Russia transports several Raptor assault boats from Baltic fleet to Black Sea via road. Candid video shared Jan 30.
Feb 8-9: Six Russian warships enter the Black Sea as part of build up, transiting the Bosporus. Mainly landing ships and an Improved KILO class submarine.
A Russian Navy landing ship RFS Kaliningrad (102) seen passing through the Dardanelles on February 8th. One of 6 vessels which transited to Black Sea. Photograph copyright Yörük Işık, via Naval News.
Feb 15: Russia deploys Tu-22M3 BACKFIRE-C bombers and MiG-31K FOXHOUND fighter jets to Khmeimim in Syria. These are to threaten NATO warships in the Mediterranean. Russia reports that the Kinzhal hypersonic missile carried by the Mig-31K can attack aircraft carriers. The Tu-22M3s are observed with legacy AS-4 KITCHEN missiles.
Feb: Russian Navy moves trained dolphin pens deployed to Sevastopol harbour entrance.
Early Invasion - The 3 Day War
Feb 24: Invasion begins.
Feb 24. Russian Navy captures strategic island of Snake Island. The SLAVA Class cruiser Moskva plays a prominent role. Reputedly, the Ukrainian garrison replies to suggestions to surrender with “Russian Warship, go ?!?% yourself”.
Feb 24: Russia declares a prohibition on navigation in the North-Western part of the Black Sea. Defined area down to the parallel 45-21 N, and from 0400 hours on 24 February 2022. Several third-country merchant ships were subsequently attacked, attributed to Russia. This blockade is total.
Late Feb: Anti-invasion naval mines laid off northern Black Sea coast, likely by Ukraine. Possibly some by Russia.
Feb 28: Bosporus closed to naval traffic. This prevents Russia transferring any of the remaining warships in the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. Russia had plans to send one, possibly two, more SLAVA class cruisers to Black Sea.
Before March 3: Majority of Ukrainian Navy warships, captured, sunk or scuttled at onset of invasion. Notably, the scuttled vessels include the frigate Hetman Sahaidachny. Ukraine, whose fleet was massively out-gunned, is left with only a few smaller vessels.
Feb-Mar: Russian Navy warships bombard Ukrainian coastline off Odesa.
Feb-Mar: Russia performs multiple amphibious demonstrations where landing ships, supported by minesweepers and other warships, threaten amphibious landings near Odesa. The landings were considered a serious threat but ultimately never come.
Mar 1: Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko revealed plans for an amphibious landing near Odesa in a televised security council meeting. The landings did not materialize.
Mar 3: Ukrainian Navy Island-class patrol boat Sloviansk (P190) sunk by Russian aircraft in northwest Black Sea, reportedly with an AS-17 KRYPTON (Kh-31) missile.
Mar 7: Reports that Ukraine hit and sunk a Russian patrol ship, Vasily Bykov, with rocket fire off Odesa. These reports subsequently shown to be incorrect, the first of several ‘wishful sinkings’.
Mid-Mar: Russia starts removing the hull numbers from its warships in the Black Sea to frustrate attempts to gather intelligence on movements. This can be viewed as a sensible precaution taken late.
March: Subsequent reports that the Russian frigate Admiral Essen was hit by a Neptune missile off Odesa. There were several 'wishful sinkings' at the time, however indications are that this occured. Missile did not hit cleanly, limited damage.
Mar 22: Russian Raptor class assault boat hit by Ukrainian anti-tank missile near Mariupol.
Mar 24: Russian Navy Alligator class landing ship Saratov hit while unloading at Berdyansk on Sea of Azov. Possibly hit by a Ukrainian ballistic missile. The ship explodes, damaging two Ropucha class landing ships which manage to escape. The ship sinks at the quay. Russia stops using the port for reinforcements.
CLICK to Enlarge. Russian Navy Alligator class landing ship Saratov on fire at Berdyansk
Apr 7: Reported in Naval News that SLAVA class cruiser Moskva is operating predictably. Precursor of things to come.
Apr 13. The SLAVA class cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet and most powerful warship in the area, is hit by two Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles. It sinks the next day. 
CLICK to Enlarge.
Post Moskva Sinking
Apr 21: “Sapphire” Ukrainian search and rescue vessel was returned to Ukraine following its capture on Feb 26, as part of the first prisoner of war exchange.
May: Fighting intensifies around Snake Island. Ukrainian TB2 drones play a major role, hitting two Raptor assault boats and sinking a landing craft at the jetty. Russian attempts to reinforce and supply it begin to appear more precarious. On at least one occassion Ukraine deploys a BM-27 Uragan MLRS on a barge to bombard the island.
May 6: incorrect reports that Admiral Makarov was hit by missiles off Odesa. Subsequently not supported by evidence.
May: Russia takes at least one captured Ukrainian Navy Gyurza-M gunboat into operational service. It was one of several captured vessels transferred from Sea of Azov to Novorossiysk that month.
Late May: Harpoon and Brimstone missiles supplied to Ukraine. These threaten Russian Navy warships.
Late May: Smaller Russian warships, including gunboats, involved in capture of Mariupol.
Jun 10: Ukrainian Navy landing ship Yuri Olefirenko attacked by Russian rockets near Ochakiv. The ship, the largest remaining in the Ukrainian Navy, survives.
Jun 17: Russian ship Vasiliy Bekh, carrying a SA-15 GAUNTLET (Tor) air-defense missile system, is sunk by Harpoon or Neptune missiles.
Jun 20: Ukraine attacks Russian controlled gas platforms in mid-Black Sea with Harpoon or Neptune missiles. One platform still burning as-of Feb 2023.
Jun 29: Two target barges, normally resident in the Russian naval base at Novorossiysk, were towed to Kerch. They are positioned as decoys to protect the bridge from attack.
Jun 30: Russia abandons Snake Island.
Jul: Threatened by Harpoon and Neptune, Russian ships largely withdraw from western side of northern Black Sea. This is a significant change in the balance.
Jul 7: Ukrainian forces briefly land on Snake Island. Special Forces from 73rd Naval Special Purpose Center used underwater vehicles in this mission.
Jul 27: Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) agreed, effectively breaking the blockage of Odesa.
Ukraine Takes The Fight To Crimea
Jul 31: Ukrainian uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) attacks Russian Navy headquarters in Sevastopol. Russia cancels planned Navy Day events in the port.
Aug 17: Commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF), Admiral Igor Osipov, is removed from his post. His deputy, Viktor Sokolov, takes command.
Aug 20: Follow-up Ukrainian uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) attack Russian Navy headquarters in Sevastopol.
Aug 24: SLAVA Class cruiser Marshall Ustinov leaves Mediterranean, to return to Northern Fleet home. This leaves the Russian Navy weaker in the Mediterranean.
Early Sep: Russian nuclear powered submarine, likely Severodvinsk, reported in Mediterranean. Seen as part of the outer defense for the Black Sea operations.
Sep 8: Romanian Navy Musca-class minesweeper, Lieutenant Dimitrie Nicolescu (29), damaged by a floating mine off Romanian coast. Romanian forces have neutralized several floating mines believed to have broken free from their moorings further north. Attribution unclear.
Sep 21. Ukrainian 'Mykola' explosive Uncrewed surface vessel (USV) washes up on beach outside Sevastopol. These are popularly called 'maritime drones'. Russian forces destroy it but otherwise do not appear to react to new threat.
Sep 26: Nord Stream 1 & 2 pipelines sabotaged in Baltic. Attribution subject to debate.
October 29. Major combined Ukrainian maritime drone (USV) and UAV attack on Sevastopol. Several USVs penetrate the harbour and two warships, the minesweeper Ivan Golubets and frigate Admiral Makarov, are hit by 'Mykola' USVs. Neither ship is sunk. However Russia withdraws fleet into bases and starts initiating increased defenses.
Artist's impression of maritime drones attacking Sevastopol. H I Sutton.
Oct 8: Ukraine attacks Kerch Bridge, likely with truck bomb. Both roadway and railway connections broken. Repairs take months and in meantime Russian Navy landing ships increasingly used as transports.
Oct: U.S. Supplied Combat Boats start to be delivered to Ukraine.
Oct: Last remaining SLAVA Class cruiser Varyag and escorts left the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. The ships arrived in Vladivostok in November.
Oct 26: Reports that Russia is attempting to reactivate legacy naval base at Balaklava, south of Sevastopol.
Nov 18: Ukrainian USV attacks Novorossiysk. No significant damage but attack demonstrates range of vessels.
2023
Jan 2023: Small Russian naval base at Feodosiya becomes more important with Kalibr armed Buyan-M corvettes using it.
Jan 11: Russian warships and submarines based at Novorossiysk temporarily evacuated in face of perceived Ukrainian threat. Vessels return.
Jan: Russia sows naval mines in Dnieper River near Kherson, seemingly to defend against Ukrainian river crossings.
Early Feb: Space X, and its founder Elon Musk, say that they will stop Ukraine using their StarLink satellite communications system for long range drones. This may have prevented Ukraine using its explosive USVs near Crimea until an alternative can be found. Russian Navy increases activity of Crimea.
Feb 10: Russia deploys its own explosive USVs, with one targeting the bridge at Zatoka, south of Odesa.
Feb 28: Ukrainian UAV attack on oil facilities at port of Tuapse, north of Sochi. This is notable for its distance from Ukrainian controlled territory and strategic relevance. Russia deploys air defenses there, observed Mar 6.
Mar 4: Russian war supplies continue to be shipped via Bosporus from Tartus to Novorossiysk. MV Sparta IV enters Black Sea.
Mar 22: Ukrainian maritime drones (USVs) and aerial drones (UAVs) attack Sevastopol. Local reports suggest 3 USVs were destroyed. Video evidence suggests that at least one penetrated deep inside the protected harbor.
Mar 22: Ukrainian forces reveal new model of maritime drone (USV)
Mid-April: Russian forces remove privately owned boats in the occupied town of Heniches'k, Kherson Oblast, on the Sea of Azov. Unclear why.
Apr 26: Ukraine reveals 'Toloka' family of uncrewed underwater vehicles. Production status unclear.
May 24: Russian intelligence ship Ivan Khurs attacked by three Ukrainian maritime drones, in vicinity 41.883333°, 30.603611°. One almost makes contact but attack unsuccessful. Ship returns to Sevastopol.
Early Jun: Russia increases dolphin pens in Sevastopol Harbor.
Jun 11: Reports from Russian sources claiming that the Black Sea Fleet Vishnya class Intelligence Ship Priazovye, was attacked by several (possibly 6) maritime drones (USVs) in Southeast Black Sea. Later located to vicinity 43.064437°, 36.813334°. All USVs reported destroyed. Interestingly, they report that she was on duty "defending of TurkStream gas pipeline" 300km south-east of Sevastopol. Her claimed reason for being there may be significant and should not be taken at face value.
Jun 18: Russian Sevastopol-designed 'Sargan' USV, which is similar to Ukraine's 'maritime drones', displayed at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
Summer 2023 Counter-Offensives
Mid-late June: Russian Navy applies deceptive camouflage to warships in Black Sea.
Jul 11: 2 Ropucha class landing ships used in a civilian role ferrying civilian traffic across the Kerch Strait. Continues after Kerch Bridge attack on July 17.
Jul 16: Ukrainian USVs attack Sevastopol. Reportedly none penetrated the harbour. Modified jet skis used. According to Mikhail Razvozhayev's Telegram channel, 2 were destroyed and another stopped by EW. 5 UAVs also employed. One Ukrainian USV known to have been in vicinity 43.060278°, 36.766944°.
Jul 17: Ukrainian USVs attack Kerch Bridge. Both spans of the road bridge seriously damaged.
Jul 18: Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) expires without renewal when Russia withdraws. Was expected.
Ukrainian SBU Sea Baby USV of the type involved in the Kerch Bridge attack.
Post-Black Sea Grain Initiative
Late-July: Repeated Russian missile and OWA-UAV attacks on Odesa and other Ukrainian controlled ports. High number of KITCHEN and STOOGE missiles noteworthy. Russia also suspected of sowing sea mines near shipping lanes to/from Odesa, possibly from fast jets using suitibly fused air-dropped bombs.
Jul 25: Reportedly, Russian Navy Project 22160 patrol ship 'Sergey Kotov' is attacked by two Ukrainian USVs. Attack unsuccessful. Subsequently on July 26 the UK MoD update noted that the ship had been deployed to the southern Black Sea, patrolling the shipping lane between the Bosphorus and Odesa.
Jul 28: Russian MoD prohibits small boats (pleasure boats, sailboats, inflatable boats, jet skis, wind surfers etc) from transiting Kerch Strait.
Jul 31/Aug 1: Russian MoD reports two patrol ships, Sergey Kotov & Vasily Bykov, tasked with "controling navigation" 183 nm SW of Sevastopol, were attacked. Location later determined to be in the vicinity of 42.117219°, 31.229180°. 3 USVs used. Meanwhile grain ships sailing to Odesa without apparent interuption.
Ukrainian maritime drone (USV) lines up an attack on the Russian Navy Ropucha Class landing ship Olenegorsky Gornyak, night of August 3-4. The attack inflicted major damage.
Aug 3: Ukrainian USV destroyed by gunfire from Russian HIP helicopter, vicinity 43.060278°, 36.766944°. Possibly part of next day's attack on Novorossiysk.
Aug 3-4: Russian Navy Ropucha Class landing ship Olenegorsky Gornyak struck by Ukrainian maritime drone (USV) outside Novorossiysk. Significant damage. Towed to Novorossiysk.
Aug 5: Russian oil products tanker 'Sig' hit by Ukrainian maritime drone (USV) south of Kerch Bridge. Ship significantly damaged.
Aug 13: Russian Patrol Ship Vasily Bykov stopped and boarded the Palau flagged Sukru Okan General Cargo ship in Southern Black Sea as it sailed towards Ukraine. This is the first treported boarding following the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI).
Aug 14: Floating sea mines wash up at Costinești, near Constanța in Romania. One explodes on pier. Possibly laid by Russia in July.
Aug 16 / 23: Videos of prototypes of AMMO Ukraine's 'Marichka' AUV revealed.
Aug 18: Ukrainian USV attack on Russian arms transport Sparta-IV, escorted by Navy Pr.1135M KRIVAK-II Class frigate Pytlivyy and Pr.22160 Bykov Class patrol ship Vasily Bykov in eastern Black sea. Sparta-IV was returning from a voyage to Tartus in Syria, likely carrying military equipment. Attack unsuccessful.
Aug 22: Engagements near Snake Island. Russian MoD publishes footage of a Ukrainian Willard Sea Force RHIB being attacked from an Su-30SM FLANKER-C.
Aug 24: Cross-beach commando raid by Ukrainian Special Forces on Cape Tarkhankut, western Crimea. The attack was preceded on Aug 23 by a strike on the S-400 air defense system there, reportedly including a Neptunre missile and elements launched from the sea.
Mid-late Aug: Russia begins placing barriers to protect the portion of the Kerch Bridge which was attacked on July 17. Barges sunk on western approach. Bridge repairs continue.
Aug: Dolphin pens appear at the Southern Naval Base at Novoozerne, Crimea.
Aug 30: Russian Black Sea Fleet order roadstead at Balaklava closed to private boats until September 4.
Sep 1: Russian social media Reports that a Ukrainian USV (and possibly UAV) on Kerch Bridge was thwarted. The Pr.1135M KRIVAK-II Class frigate Pytlivyy may have been targeted, or otherwise involved. Unconfirmed.
Aug-Sep 2023: Ukraine lands on and reclaims 'Boyko Towers' gas rigs/platforms in Black Sea.
Sep 13: Ukrainian strike on Sevastopol, reportedly with Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG cruise missiles. Pr.775 Ropucha class landing ship Minsk and Pr.636.3 Improved KILO Class submarine Rostov-on-Don (B-237) seriously damaged in dry dock.
Vessels in the dry dock in Sevastopol burning, September 13 2023.
Damage to Improved-KILO Class submarine Rostov-on-Don.
Sep 13-14: Ukrainian USV attacks target Russian tanker Yaz and weapons transport Ursa Major in Black Sea. Russian MoD states that 11 USVs were destroyed, 3 by Pr.22160 Bykov Class patrol ship Vasily Bykov, 3 by naval aviation (likely helicopters) and 5 by Pr.22160 Bykov Class patrol ship Sergey Kotov.
Sep 14: USV attack on Pr.1239 Bora Class missile corvette Samum, reportedly with experimental 'semi-submersible' USVs (x2). Subsequently reported that SBU Sea Baby and Mamai USVs had laid seabed mines which the ship, plus a minesweeper, sailed over.
Mid-Late Sep: Increased Ukrainian missile and OWA-UAV (one way attack aerial drones) attacks on Black Sea Fleet targets, including major facilities in Sevastopol on Sep 20 and the main HQ building on Sep 22.
Sept 20: Ukrainian cruise missile strike on Black Sea Fleet installations near Sevastopol.
Sept 20: Togo-flagged merchant ship 'Seama' hit by floating mine in Danube anchorage, 12 miles offshore from Sulina area of Romania.
Sept 22: Ukrainian Storm Shadow missiles strike Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol.
Oct: Russian Navy submarine operations moved almost entirely to Novorossiysk. After missile strikes few high-value warships visit Sevastopol and stay only for short periods.
Oct 5: Turkish flagged general cargo ship 'Kafkametler' hit a sea mine while waiting outside the entrance to the Sulina Canal, Romania.
Oct 8: Attack on Balticconnector gas pipeline and nearby submarine communication cable (SCC) in Gulf of Finland. Attribution to be confirmed.
Oct 11: Russian Navy Pr.22160 patrol ship 'Pavel Derzhavin' reportedly hit Russian mine outside Sevastopol harbour. Unconfirmed.
Oct 13: Ukrainian maritime drones, likely USVs, attack Russian warships outside Sevastopol. Buyan-M corvette reportedly damaged with sources on both sides but no official confirmations.
Oct 16: Liberian flagged tanker 'Ali Najafov' coming from Georgia, struck a mine in the region near Bystroe Canal
Oct 24: Russian MoD reports that at about 4 o'clock Moscow time, in the northern part of the Black Sea, 3 unmanned boats of the Ukrainian Navy were detected. Russian forces responded, results unclear.
Oct 25: Ukraine reports that Russian naval aircraft laid 'explosive devices' in shipping lane to/from Odesa.
Oct 27: Russian Pr.23040G minesweeper 'Vladimir Kozitsky' destroyed by explosion in Sevastopol Bay. Subsequenty attributed to a Ukrainian SBU 'Sea Baby' USV.
Nov 4: Brand new Russian Pr.22800 Karakurt class corvette 'Askold' struck by Ukrainian missiles at shipyard in Kerch.
Nov 10: Liberian flagged merchant ship KMAX Ruler hit by Russian anti-radiation missile in port of Odesa. The missile was likely a AS-17 KRYPTON (Kh-31).
Nov 10: Ukrainian maritime drones (USVs) operated by GUR hit two Russian Navy landing craft in Chornomors'ke, northern Crimea. 1 x Pr.11770 Serna Class and 1 x Pr.1176 Ondatra Class.
Nov 16: Liberian flagged Merchant ship 'Georgia S' struck by floating mine in Northwestern Black Sea.
Nov 22: Ukrainian GUR Magura-5 USV washes up on a beach on the Western side of Crimea. On November 25 Russia releases video footage of Su-30SM FLANKER aircraft strafing a small boat or USV off Crimea.
Nov 27: Powerful storm batters the region, particularly affecting Crimea. Harbor defenses at Sevastopol and barriers at Kerch damaged. Dolphins pens at Sevastopol harbour apparently destroyed, later replaced. Reports of one boat, possibly a Raptor assault boat, sunk.
Dec 5: Panama flagged ship 'Vyssos' hit a mine close to the entry to Bystroe channel.
Dec 6: Russian SU-24M FENCER-D strike aircraft shot down over Black Sea near Snake Island, reportedly by a Ukrainian air defense missile (possibly Patriot). This is the first time Ukraine has had the reach to achieve this. This appears to have deterred further Russian minelaying efforts in the Black Sea.
Dec 14: Russian company KMZ reveals its Dandelion USV, which reportedly will be deployed in combat in the Black Sea. The vehicle appears similar to Ukrainian types.
Dec 11-18: Russian Navy adds new boom defenses added to Southern Navy Base in Novoozerne, Crimea.
Dec 24: Ukraine's SBU reveal the 'Kozak Mamai' USV previously used in the attacks on the Ropucha Class landing ship Olenegorsky Gornyak and tanker Sig.
Dec 25-26: Ukraine hits Russian Ropucha Class landing ship Novocherkassk in the port of Feodosia, Crimea. Ship caught fire, seriously damaged likely write-off. Initial evidence suggests that she sunk at the pier.
Novocherkassk on fire in Feodosia, December 26 2023
Dec 28-30: Russian Navy Pr.205P STENKA Class patrol boat observed sunken at pier in Sevastopol. Reputedly hit by a Ukrainian USV, see possible related attack below.
Dec 30: Russian appointed Governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, reported that Russian forces repelled a surface drone 3km from Sevastopol. The USV was apparently destroyed by helicopter. Possibly related to video released on Jan 1 2024 showing SBU 'Sea Baby' USVs firing rockets in Sevastopol Bay.
2024
Jan 19: Russia launches a P-35 (SS-N-3B SEPAL) supersonic anti-ship missile against Ukraine for the first time. Possibly launched from a legacy hardened site near Sevastopol.
Jan 24: Ukrainian underwater drone (AUV) project Fury revealed to public.
Jan 31: Ukraine's GUR attacks Russian Navy TARANTUL Class missile corvette Ivanovets with USVs in vicinity of Lake Donuzlav, Crimea. Vessel sunk.
Jan - Feb: Russian warships in Sevastopol increasingly using camouflage netting to break up their profile. This is in addition to widespread application of 'deceptive' camouflage.
Feb 9: Reported attempted attack by 3 or more Ukrainian "Semi-submersible unmanned boats" (USVs) on a Russian "civilian transport ships" in Southwestern Black Sea.
Feb 14: Ukraine's GUR attacks Russian Navy ROPUCHA Class landing ship Caesar Kunikov with USVs on the southern coast of Crimea. Vessel sunk.
Successful attacks by Ukrainian GUR Group-13 operated USVs on TARANTUL Class missile corvette Ivanovets (left) and ROPUCHA Class landing ship Caesar Kunikov (right).
Feb 15: Reports that the commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF), Admiral Viktor Sokolov, is removed from his post. His deputy, Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk, likely takes command. This will be the second change in command of the BSF since the full-scale invasion began.
Mar 4: Ukrainian GUR used USVs to attack Russian Navy Project 22160 Patrol Ship Sergey Kotov in southern approaches to Kerch Bridge. Vessel sinks Mar 5. Four USVs were observed in the Black Sea the previous day by the merchant vessel 'Ella', likely the same group.
Mar 6: Ukraine's SBU reveals the improved Sea Baby USV, with first public vessel named Avdiivka.
Mar 9: Video of likely Lancet strike on Ukrainian Project 1176 landing craft L434 Svatove at Berezans'kyi Liman, Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine.
Mar 10: Reports that head of the Russian Navy, Admiral N.Evmenov, resigned (or was dismissed). Admiral A.Moiseev, head of the Northern Fleet, was promoted in his place.
Mar 11: Ukrainian strike on Russian listening post on a grounded ship on Yanushiv Island, on the southern shore of the Dniprovska Gulf.
Mar: Russian ships of the 'Syrian Express' between Tartus and Novorossiysk turn back from Bosporus passage and instead take long way around via Baltic. Subsequently merchant ships heading to Novorossiysk take indirect routes and often avoid AIS.
Mar 17: Russian minister of defense Sergei Shoigu inspects Black Sea Fleet, directing then to increase defenses against maritime drones (USVs).
Mar 18-20: Videos of a Ukrainian boats being struck by a Russian Lancet loitering munition on the Dnieper river. One likely a Project 205P STENKA Class. Results unclear.
Mar 20: Russian Ministry of Defense announces creation of the Dnieper ('Dnepr') River Flotilla.
Mar 23: Ukrainian air raid on Sevastopol, Crimea. Reports suggest that three Russian Navy Pr.775 ROPUCHA Class landing ships, Yamal, Azov, and Konstantin Olshanskyi were hit by missiles, plus the Yuri Ivanov class intelligence ship Ivan Khurs. Missiles possibly a mix of Storm Shadow/SCALP and Neptune. Shore infrastructure and air base also hit.
Apr 3: USV discovered in Romanian waters, capsized. It was an AM-800 RHIB with a P-20 STYX warhead. Attributed to Ukraine but unconfirmed.
Apr 7: Ukraine's GUR claim fire aboard Pr.21631 Buyan-M corvette "Serpukhov" at Baltiysk, Kaliningrad on Baltic, was sabotage.
Apr 21: Ukrainian Neptune missile strike on Russian naval base at Sevastopol in Crimea reportedly damaged the submarine support ship Kommuna.
May 6: Ukrainian GUR used USVs to attack Russian Navy vessels in Chornomors'ke. 1 boat hit.
May 6: Videos shared on Russian social media show a Ukrainian USV armed with AA-11 ARCHER missiles as 'FrankenSAM'. USV destroyed by fire from helicopter.
May 19: Russian Navy Pr.22800 Karakurt class missile corvette "Tsiklon" destroyed by Ukrainian missiles, likely ATACMS, in Sevastopol. Initial reports misidentified it as a minesweeper.
May 29: Footage of a Ukrainian Magura V5 USV being hit by an FPV drone shared on Russian social media. This is the first evidence of this long-expected tactic.
May 29: Ukrainian ATACMS missiles damage two rail ferries in Kerch. These ferries were used by Russia to ship fuel and ammunition to Crimea to avoid it going over the Kerch Bridge.
May 30: Ukrainian GUR used Magura USVs to attack Russian Navy vessels in Chornomors'ke. 2 KS-701 Tunets boats hit. One Magura was engaged by helicopters. Russian sources also released footage of a Magura being hit by an FPV drone, possibly in a separate mission.
Ukrainian Magura V5 USV being hit by an FPV drone shared on Russian social media
Magura V5 USVs attack Russian vessels at Chornomors'ke. Engaged by a Russian Mi-24 HIND (left), approaching a KS-701 Tunets boat (center), and impact (right).
May - Jun: Russian Navy moves damaged Pr.636.3 Improved KILO Class submarine Rostov-on-Don (B-237) from dry dock in Sevastopol to smaller dock further in the port.
Jun 1: Russian Navy Pr.636.3 Improved KILO Class submarines likely involved in launching Kalibr cruise missiles from Black Sea at targets in Ukraine.
June 6: Ukrainian GUR Magura V5 USVs pass through/over boom defenses at Morskoy Spetsializirovannyy Port, Chernomorsk, and destroy the tug Saturn (Gousan-5).
June 21: Russian sources report the downing of a Ka-29 HELIX-B helicopter while it was engaging Ukrainian USVs. Possibly shot down in red-on-red incident. Suggestion is that Ukraine launched UAVs which caused Russian air defenses to launch, thus engineering the outcome.
July 3: Ukrainian GUR attack on Novorossiysk using Magura USVs.
Julz 12: Imagery circulated on social media by 'Atesh' suggests Russian ROPUCHA and ALLIGATOR class landing Ships laid moored naval mines in approaches to Novorossiysk. Unclear what these are intended to defend against.
July 17: Ukrainian SBU attack Russian base at Lake Donuzlav with Mamai USVs. One, possibly more, KS-701 "Tunets" boat was destroyed.
July 23: Attack on Kerch strait ferries by Ukrainian UAVs. The rail ferry "Slavyanin" hit in the port Kavkaz.
July 25: Ukrainian weaponized Yamaha Waverunner FX jet ski found on Turkish beach near Istanbul.
Kursk Phase
Jul - Aug: Russia continues to repeatedly target Ukrainian ports and naval bases, scoring some hits.
Aug 3: Ukraine hits already damaged Russian Navy Pr.636.3 Improved KILO Class submarine Rostov-on-Don (B-237) with an ATACMS in Sevastopol. In days after, a decoy submarine is added to the location. Rostov-on-Don likely still afloat but seriously damaged.
Aug 9-10: Ukrainian USV struck gas platform MSP-17 (МСП-17) at 45.25826°, 31.6733°. Reportedly Russian forces had installed a GPS spoofing or jamming system on the rig. Afterwards the rig remained burning.
Aug 14: Evidence that Russia deployed a decoy KILO Class submarine in Sevastopol next to the wreck of Rostov on Don which was destroyed previously. The decoy was deployed after the submarine was hit.
Aug 16-17: Ukrainian raids on Crimea with USVs and missiles. Ferries at Kerch among the targets.
Aug 22: Ukraine destroys Russian train ferry Conro Trader in the port of Kavkaz, Kerch Strait, with P-360 "Neptune" missile.
Aug 23-24: Russia strikes Snake Island with 4 x AS-4 KITCHEN (X-22) missiles.
Aug 29: Russian strike on Odesa destroyed Ukrainian Navy auxiliary A540 'Chygirin'.
Sep 4-5: Ukrainian attack on Novorossiysk with USVs.
Sep 11: Russian Su-30 FLANKER jet shot down by Ukrainian GUR with MANPADS east of line of gas platforms in NW Black Sea. The aircraft was highly likely engaged in attacks on the gas platforms with AS-15 KRYPTON missiles.
Sep 11: Grain ship MV Aya hit by Russian AS-4 KITCHEN (X-22) missile in Black Sea, south of Snake Island in Romanian EEZ.
Sep: Russian Navy practices evacuating Novorossiysk in response to Ukrainian air attack. Drills are carried out (at least) on Sep 11 and Sep 14. In the latter literally every ship in the naval port is evacuated.
Sep: Missile attacks on Odesa have been continuing daily. On September 20 the merchant ship Golden Lion is damaged. Russian MoD implies that the ship was supplying arms to Ukraine (which I do not consider credible but mention for completeness). By October it appears likely that the attacks have shifted to include deliberately targeting merchant ships and civilian infrastructure.
Sep: Russian defenses at Kerch Bridge being steadily increased.
Sep-Oct: Iranian arms shipments to Ukraine via Caspian Sea highly likely to have included close range ballistic missiles (CRBM).
Oct 7: Ukraine's GUR claim to have sabotaged the Russian Navy Pr.12700 Alexandrit Class minehunter Aleksandr Obukhov in Baltic. Propulsion reportedly damaged.
Oct 16: Russian MoD releases video showing captured Ukrainian GUR Magura USV being used as a training target for FPV drone crews.
Mid Oct: Russia reportedly using Pacific Fleet LSTs to transport North Korean troops, destined for the war in Ukraine, from North Korea to Russian far east.
Oct 21 or 22: Another gas platform in Black Sea (vicinity 45.34505, 31.86367) observed burning. Rig continues to burn afterwards.
Winter Of Discomfort
Nov 6: Ukrainian 'Foxbat' OWA-UAVs attack Russian naval base at Kaspiysk in Black Sea. One impact on the pier observed. 2 x GEPARD Class frigates reportedly lightly damaged in raid . Naval vessels dispersed to open water.
2 screenshots of the same attack from different angles, showing a Ukrainian 'Foxbat' OWA-UAV appearing to narrowly miss the TARANTAL Class corvette R-101 Stupinets at Kaspiysk on Nov 6 2024.
Nov 28: Russia increases missile and drone raids on Ukraine reportedly targeting power infrastructure. On the Nov 28 raid 28 Kalibr cruise missiles are launched by the Black Sea Fleet. The number launched suggests 3 warships and 1 submarine involved.
Dec 5-6: Sea Baby marine drones (USVs) operated by Ukraine's SBU attack Kerch bridge. Attack unsuccessful. Russian forces engage with helicopters, fast jets and assault boats. The Sea Baby's are seen with remote weapons stations (RWS) for the first time.
Dec 6-7: Ukrainian Navy (VMS ZSU) USVs attack Russian positions on gas platforms in Black Sea. USVs launch FPV drones and lay explosive charges.
Left: Dec 5, Sea Baby USV engages a Russian FLANKER fighter with its onboard machine gun. Right: FPV drone's eye view of Ukrainian Navy USV as it lifts off to attack a gas platform in Black Sea, Dec 6.
Mid Dec: In Mediterranean, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria leads to Russia withdrawing troops and equipment from the country. The future of the Russian naval base at Tartus is in question. This distracts and disrupts logistics, placing strain on the Russian Navy.
Dec 15: A gale in eastern Black Sea leads to 3 Russian vessels sinking or being written off. 2 tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 are lost resulting in approximately 3,700 tons of oil spill. A floating crane capsized off Yalta on Crimea's southern coast. The bad weather appears to have caused some of the barge defensive lines at the Kerch Bridge to break. The main boom defenses seem less affected.
Dec 17: A third tanker, Volgoneft 109, experiences a similar emergency on the Sea of Azov side of Kerch, possibly sunk.
...To be continued.
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