Capture of Southern Naval Base

45°20′24″N 33°00′36″E / 45.34000°N 33.01000°E / 45.34000; 33.01000

The blockade of the Ukrainian fleet in Donuzlav
Part of the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

Location of Donuzlav Bay
Date3 – 26 March 2014
(3 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
 Russia  Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Russia Viktor Chirkov
Russia Aleksandr Vitko
Autonomous Republic of Crimea Denis Berezovsky Surrendered (defected on March 2)
Ukraine Ihor Tenyukh
Ukraine Serhiy Hayduk
Ukraine Yuriy Fedash
Ukraine Dmytro Kovalenko
Units involved

Russian Navy

Ukrainian Navy
Strength
1 missile cruiser
4 support ships
2 helicopters
1 corvette
3 minesweepers
2 landing ships
Casualties and losses
None 13 ships captured, some later returned

The siege of Southern Naval Base lasted from 3 March 2014 until its definitive capture on 27 March 2014. The action began with the blockade of Donuzlav bay by the Russian missile cruiser Moskva. The Russian Navy later scuttled the Russian anti-submarine ship Ochakov and several smaller vessels in the mouth of the bay to prevent Ukrainian ships from sailing to open sea and reaching the Ukrainian fleet in Odesa. As a result, 13 Ukrainian ships were bottled up and eventually captured by Russia in Donuzlav bay. The blockade ended when the Russian Navy seized the last ship under the Ukrainian flag in Crimea, the minesweeper Cherkasy.