Ukraine claims victory at sea as land offensive stalls

It manages to push back Russia’s navy, allowing it to export grain to world markets

ON A UKRAINIAN PATROL IN THE BLACK SEA, Ukraine - A Ukrainian maritime patrol boat set off from Odesa on the Black Sea - a historic and strategically vital port city that is regularly targeted by Russian strikes.

Standing on its prow, a border guard scoured the sky with a Stinger missile on his shoulder as the crew set off to inspect a cargo ship heading to Ukraine.

While the front line on land has remained largely static, Ukraine has managed to push Russia's navy back from its shores and claimed another success on Dec 26, saying it had destroyed a Russian landing ship.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed these Black Sea successes as "a big victory", allowing the grain-producing nation to export to world markets.

Despite Russia's threats of strikes and its supposed naval superiority, Ukraine's efforts have managed to keep open a maritime corridor for food exports.

"The achievement is remarkable because Ukraine is virtually bereft of warships," read a recent commentary in Defence News, a specialist US website.

It has been Ukraine's only major military success in 2023, as its advances on land have been very limited.

Following a series of Russian retreats in 2022, the front line has remained virtually unchanged in 2023 after a Ukrainian counter-offensive largely fizzled out.

Russian forces in recent weeks have put additional pressure on Ukrainian positions and claimed some gains on the eastern front.