Today is the Day of the Ukrainian Navy: the role of the Navy in repelling Russian aggression

Today, on the first Sunday of July, events are taking place to mark the Day of the Ukrainian Navy. The date of the celebration was established by a decree of the President of Ukraine in 2015, UNN reports.

In July 1918, practical steps were taken to form the Ukrainian Navy of the then independent Ukraine. In particular, a permanent unit of the Ukrainian Navy, a brigade of minesweepers, was created.

The creation of the Ukrainian Navy gradually began in 1992, when the crews of some ships of the former soviet Black Sea Fleet began to take the oath of allegiance to Ukraine.

This took place against the backdrop of a fierce political confrontation with russia, which wanted to completely subjugate the Black Sea Fleet to itself.

It did not come to an open armed confrontation. The parties signed a preliminary agreement, according to which the fleet was to be divided 50-50. However, Ukraine later made concessions and received only 20% of the Black Sea Fleet.

The first commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was Vice Admiral Borys Kozhyn.

During the russian occupation of Crimea in 2014, the Ukrainian Navy lost 85% of its ships. However, some of the ships were later returned.

A third of the Navy personnel openly defected to the occupiers. This included the then-appointed Navy Commander, Rear Admiral denys berezovsky.

At the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion, the Navy's combat fleet consisted of 22 ships of various classes, the auxiliary fleet had 37 vessels, and the Navy's aviation had 35 aircraft.

From the first moments of the full-scale war, all units of the Ukrainian Navy have been involved in repelling russian aggression.

In particular, the Marines took part in the heroic defense of Mariupol and Azovstal, and now continue to destroy the russian occupiers in the most critical areas of the front.

Since February 24, the Ukrainian Defense Forces, including the Navy, have destroyed 28 enemy ships and one submarine.