Ukraine Says Russia Has Lost Control of the Black Sea

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Russia no longer controls the Black Sea following a series of Ukrainian strikes on the Russian Black Sea Fleet and other military targets in Crimea. He said the operations, which began with the recapture of Snake Island, have turned the sea into an unsafe refuge for Russian forces.

Zelensky cited damage figures released by Ukrainian defence officials: out of 33 Russian surface combatants, 4 were destroyed and 8 damaged; of 34 landing ships, 15 were destroyed and 10 damaged; and of 23 support vessels, 3 were destroyed and 9 damaged. He also announced plans to establish a new naval academy in Odesa to train future Ukrainian sailors.

The president added that Ukraine is developing a new generation of unmanned naval systems capable of intercepting and controlling sanctioned vessels operating in the Black Sea, rather than merely destroying them.