Key Facts
- Duration
- 3 March – 27 March 2014
- Ukrainian ships captured
- 13
- Key Russian vessel used
- Missile cruiser Moskva
- Ships scuttled to block bay
- Ochakov + several smaller vessels
- Last Ukrainian ship seized
- Minesweeper Cherkasy
Strategic Narrative Overview
On 3 March 2014, the Russian missile cruiser Moskva began blockading Donuzlav bay. The Russian Navy then deliberately scuttled the anti-submarine ship Ochakov and several smaller vessels across the bay's mouth, trapping 13 Ukrainian naval ships inside. Unable to break out or reach the main Ukrainian fleet at Odesa, the bottled-up vessels were progressively seized by Russian forces over the course of the month-long operation.
01 / The Origins
In early 2014, Russia moved to annex the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine following political upheaval in Kyiv. As Russian forces asserted control over Crimea, securing or neutralizing Ukrainian military assets became a strategic priority. The Ukrainian Southern Naval Base at Donuzlav bay housed a significant portion of Ukraine's Black Sea fleet, making it a key objective for Russian forces seeking to complete their takeover of the peninsula.
03 / The Outcome
The siege concluded on 27 March 2014 when Russian forces captured the minesweeper Cherkasy, the last Ukrainian-flagged warship in Crimea. All 13 Ukrainian ships trapped in Donuzlav bay fell into Russian hands. The action effectively dismantled Ukraine's Crimean naval presence, consolidating Russian military dominance over the peninsula and leaving Ukraine without assets in the region.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.