Established around a core of former Soviet vessels the 21st-century Ukrainian Navy is looking westward for new partners and allies.
On 24 August 1991, on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine declared its independence and adopted a political course leading toward its entry into European security and cooperation structures. Ukraine has become one of the leading seafaring states of the world, and it now occupies 40th place among some 150 maritime states. Our state has maritime relations with 189 states through 29 ports. The Ukrainian merchant marine carries approximately 18 million tons of cargo and six million passengers per year, and it consists of more than 1,270 vessels with a freight-carrying capacity of 2.5 million tons. Given such a maritime posture, the issue of establishing our own naval forces became urgent at the moment of Ukraine's independence. The building of a navy became an integral part of the program of building a sovereign and independent Ukrainian state.
On 2 April 1992, the President of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, issued a decree "On taking immediate measures for the development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine"—which included the formation of naval forces on the basis of the Black Sea Fleet of the former Soviet Union. The process of forming the Ukrainian Navy can be divided into four phases:
This phase involved the creation and formation of the Ukrainian Navy, using our own resources prior to the division of the Black Sea Fleet. It included the following main steps:
- Formation of the command structure
- Organization of the first formations composed of vessels undergoing completion at Ukrainian shipyards
- Organization of naval aviation
- Creation of the first Marine units
- Establishment of a system of naval schools, training centers, and initial structures for the preparation of naval personnel
In August 1992, an agreement was reached at Yalta between Ukraine and the Russian Federation establishing basic principles for the formation of a separate Ukrainian Navy and a separate Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation.
The Navy's beginnings were modest, but our determination was unwavering. We first had formed the naval command structure, main directorates for naval branch components, and large fleet formations. With the transfer of newly built vessels from Ukrainian shipyards, we formed a surface ship brigade consisting of four vessels, and based it in Sevastopol. Our naval aviation consisted of three separate aviation regiments based at Saki air base in the Crimea and Ochakiv air base near Odesa. We formed two separate Marine battalions, a special operations brigade, and logistical support units. To train naval personnel, the Sevastopol Naval Institute was established, and for the training of sailors and noncommissioned naval officers a training detachment was organized.
The Second Phase (January 1995 to May 1997)
During the second phase the Black Sea Fleet was divided. In addition, the following objectives were pursued:
- Continuing the formation of the command system and structure
- Creating operational-territorial areas—or the "maritime regions"
- Establishing a basic structure for the surface navy
- Organizing a naval aviation group
- Formation of shore defense forces
- Continuing development of combat, technical, and logistical support systems
Based on the results of the division of the Black Sea Fleet, a structure for basing the Ukrainian Navy was evolving. First, we created two operational-territorial areas—the Western Maritime and Southern Maritime Regions—with command centers in Odesa and Novoozerne, respectively. The available naval aviation was organized into a naval aviation group composed of a regiment and two separate squadrons. A stationary system of shore observation was established, and we continued with the augmentation of naval basing systems at Ochakiv, Chornomorske, and Novoozerne.
Phase Three (May 1997 through 1998)
This phase was characterized by the completion of the division of the Black Sea Fleet and the commencement of a building program for the Ukrainian Navy. This involved the following objectives:
- Completion of the formation of naval force components
- Optimization of the organizational structure and force levels
- Creation of a system of cadre training for all branches and levels
- Completion of the establishment of basing systems for naval forces and a system for logistical and technical support
During this phase, as a result of the acquisition of additional ships, craft, armaments, and shore-based infrastructure, we were able to create additional ship formations, units, and subunits of combat, technical, and rear-area support.
Today, the Ukrainian Navy consists of the following components and their respective administrative organizations:
- Surface forces—brigades, basic tactical formations, and squadrons
- Submarine forces—squadrons
- Naval aviation—aviation regiments and squadrons
- Shore-based rocket-artillery forces—brigades
- Marines—brigades and basic tactical formations
Special formations and units of the Ukrainian Navy are designated to provide security to combat operations of fleets, formations, and units, and execute special missions inherent only to them. These special formations have in their force structure units and subunits for intelligence, nuclear, chemical, and biological defense, communications, radio-technical service, electronic warfare, search-and-rescue operations, hydrographic and hydrometeorological service, and engineering.
In 1994, Ukraine acceded to the "Partnership for Peace" (PFP) program. Two years later, an individual program within the PFP was approved to guide the new partnership between Ukraine and NATO. Within the framework of these two documents, and in spite of difficulties experienced during the period of formation, Ukrainian Navy ships have become regular participants in naval training exercises taking place in the Black Sea basin. During these joint and combined training exercises, our naval staffs, ships, and subunits were employed actively in accordance with relevant regulatory documents developed for the naval forces of states participating in the PFP program.
From 1994 to 1998, eight multinational exercises were conducted in the Black Sea region according to national plans and six exercises in accordance with the PFP program. Four combined exercises took place in 1999. The Ukrainian Navy took an active part in all of them. It should be noted, however, that the conduct of a majority of these exercises would not have been possible without the substantive assistance of the U. S. Navy.
The basis for cooperation between the U. S. Navy and the Ukrainian Navy is the "Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation on Defense and Military Relations," signed by both sides on 27 July 1993. The first contact between the two navies took place on 30 September 1994 during the visit by the guided-missile cruiser Belknap (CG-26) to the port of Odesa. For the first time, members of counterpart staffs met on board the ship and discussed issues of mutual interest. Since then, there have been 19 port visits by U.S. naval vessels, and in 1996 the first visit to a U.S. port (Norfolk) by two ships of the Ukrainian Navy took place.
The main objectives of this cooperation are: the exchange of delegations at command, staff, and directorate levels; the establishment of joint and passing-exercise training; the exchange of ship visits; the training of Ukrainian naval officers at U. S. Navy training institutions; and the support of the Ukrainian Navy's role in the PFP program. Since 1994, the exchange of delegations has been growing in frequency and substance. In 1998, for example, there were 15 such exchanges. In 1999, 20 exchanges took place.
Familiarization with the training of specialists at various levels; visits to centers for forces and staff training; discussion of problems of the law of the sea; familiarization with port infrastructure; support of search and rescue operations; exchange of instructors and students at naval institutions of learning; and practical experience gained by officers and cadets on board ships of the U.S. Atlantic and Sixth Fleets—all these events have enriched our experience and knowledge.
The combined exercise Sea Breeze 98 was conducted in the spirit of the PFP program with the participation of states of the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea regions, and NATO. By inviting observers and representatives from other NATO and PFP countries, these exercises strengthen and broaden regional security measures and enhance confidence building among participants.
The problems of standardization and interoperability become very apparent during the conduct of these kinds of combined events at sea. Only unity of command at the tactical level permits a speedy and operational resolution of the problem of combined force operations. Many problems that cannot be resolved readily still remain. First is an inadequate command of the English language. Communication systems and replenishment techniques also are incompatible. We are prepared to take part in future combined exercises, because we understand that only by resolving common tasks at sea can we strengthen mutual understanding.
From 1994 to 1999, 26 officers of the Ukrainian Navy received training and education at various naval training institutions, such as: the Navy War College at Newport; the Marine Corps Staff College at Quantico; the Judge Advocate School and the Defense Language School at San Antonio; surface ship officer courses at San Diego; and logistics officer courses. With U. S. support, a foreign language laboratory has been established at the Sevastopol Naval Institute.
Notwithstanding today's critical economic situation in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense is giving close attention to the preparation and training of the Ukraine's naval forces. Thus, the Ukrainian Navy continues to conduct field exercises involving firing from rocket launchers, and launching SS-N-2C cruise missiles from rocket cutters and from shore-based rocket complexes. Over the past five years, ships of the Ukrainian Navy have made five long-distance voyages, including to the shores of France and the United States; naval vessels and Marine subunits took part in 13 various training exercises; and Ukrainian naval staff officers participated in many multinational command post exercises. All these activities have enhanced the level of operational readiness.
The shipbuilders of Ukraine, using current technology, are capable of building ships for the 21st century. We hope to enhance the development of our naval forces by providing them with the newest ships, and enhancing the system and quality of the preparation of the sailors who will be capable of operating these ships and protecting the national interests of Ukraine on the high seas. We cherish our hope that friendly contacts and cooperation between the Ukrainian Navy and the U. S. Navy will expand in the future.
Vice Admiral Yezhel is the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Navy and Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine.