Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has been significantly limited in its power, geographically constrained in its operations, and suffered serious reputational losses.
According to British intelligence, reported on X, prior to 2022 the Ukrainian Navy was significantly weaker than the Russian fleet and primarily carried out patrol duties along Ukraine’s coastline.
However, following the full-scale war, Ukrainian forces inflicted substantial damage on the Russian fleet, destroying at least 25 of its ships—including the flagship cruiser Moskva—and also damaging a Russian submarine at the Black Sea Fleet’s new base in Novorossiysk, to which the fleet was forced to relocate from Sevastopol.
“It's ability to project maritime power in the region and beyond has been severely constrained, as it is continuosly complelled to adapt its tactics in a diminished operating environment,” the report states.
