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On February 24, 2022, news shook the world: Russian forces had invaded Ukraine in what the Kremlin called a “Special Military Operation.” This is the story of those early days. At the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many expected a swift victory, but Ukrainian forces put up unexpected resistance, especially on the land front. However, Russia initially dominated the Black Sea with its powerful navy, destroying the Ukrainian fleet. The Ukrainians quickly adapted, creating a form of naval guerrilla warfare. By January 2022, Russia had reinforced its naval presence with amphibious ships, such as the Pyotr Morgunov and Ivan Gren classes, as well as submarines. Russian naval operations aimed to maintain a deterrent presence in the Black Sea to prevent NATO intervention, including military exercises and missile launches aimed at weakening Ukrainian morale. On February 24, 2022, Russia captured Snake Island, a key location near Odessa, after a famous exchange between Ukrainian border guards and the Russian warship Moskva. The Ukrainian soldiers’ refusal to surrender became a symbol of resistance, and later, Hrybov, the soldier who famously told the Moskva to “fuck off,” was awarded Ukraine’s highest honor. The defenders were initially reported dead, but were later found to be alive, and the Ukrainian Postal Service issued a stamp in their honor. Russia also imposed a naval blockade in the Black Sea and attacked third-country ships. On the eastern coast, Russia conducted amphibious landings near Mariupol, but despite positioning forces near Odessa, no large-scale assault took place. In response to the advancing Russian forces, the Ukrainian Navy sank its flagship, the Hetman Sahaydachniy, to prevent its capture. |