Lessons on Amphibious Combat Drawings from a Conflict Minimally Afflicted by Such Actions: Valuable Amount Learned
In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the Black Sea region has been a focal point, with both nations demonstrating their naval capabilities.
Reports suggest that Ukraine's land-based anti-ship missiles and sea mines have played a significant role in deterring Russia from launching large-scale amphibious assaults. These defenses have kept the Russian Black Sea Fleet at a safe distance, preventing Russia from establishing the seaward control prerequisite for amphibious landings.
Ukraine's effective coastal defenses have also undermined Russian naval freedom of movement. The absence of a blockade of Ukrainian territorial waters has prevented Russia from securing the maritime space needed for executing broader amphibious operations, forcing the Black Sea Fleet to limit itself to striking land targets rather than projecting amphibious power.
Russia's operational experience in Ukraine has shown the high risks and limited success of naval operations against effective Ukrainian coastal defenses. This reality has likely discouraged Russia from attempting risky large-scale amphibious assaults.
While Russia does have ongoing developments in amphibious command and control systems, these are longer-term efforts and did not materially influence the invasion strategy as of 2022–2023.
In a notable instance, Ukrainian officials claimed the sinking of the Moskva, a Russian cruiser, was achieved by their domestically produced Neptune antiship missile, potentially in coordination with a Bayraktar TB2 drone. The danger of naval mines to a Russian amphibious assault is significant, as demonstrated by the Ukrainian military's reported sinking of a Russian landing ship in Berdyansk.
The Russian navy has faced readiness and equipment issues for years, with the only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, suffering a major fire in 2019 and being plagued by breakdowns and setbacks since its launch in 1985. Despite these challenges, Russia's naval infantry force fields five brigades plus additional battalions, operationally subordinated to fleet commanders.
The annexation of Crimea by Russia more than doubled its coastline along the Black Sea, giving it a strategic advantage. However, Ukraine's resilient coastal defenses have proven to be a significant obstacle for Russia's amphibious assault ambitions.
As the conflict continues, both nations are expected to further develop and deploy their naval capabilities. Amphibious operations remain a key strategic and operational capability for major militaries around the world, and it remains to be seen how the situation in the Black Sea region will evolve.
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- The ongoing conflicts in war-and-conflicts zones, such as Ukraine and Russia, highlight the importance of special operations, intelligence, and military logistics in defense and security matters.
- The Ukrainian military has utilized their land-based anti-ship missiles and sea mines effectively, disrupting Russia's naval warfare intentions and compelling them to rely on drone reconnaissance and strikes against land targets.
- Politics plays a crucial role in shaping the military strategies of nations, as demonstrated by Russia's apparent hesitation to launch large-scale amphibious assaults due to the significant resistance from Ukraine's coastal defenses.
- Despite Russia's ongoing developments in amphibious command and control systems, general-news sources suggest that these long-term efforts did not materially influence their invasion strategy as of 2022–2023.
- In a notable incident, Ukrainian officials claimed the sinking of the Moskva, a Russian cruiser, using their Neptune antiship missile in collaboration with a Bayraktar TB2 drone, which underscores the lethal potential of Ukrainian military innovations in warfare.
- The future of naval warfare in the Black Sea region is uncertain, as both Ukraine and Russia are expected to continue developing and deploying their naval capabilities, making amphibious operations a strategic priority for major militaries around the world.
