Ukraine's Maritime Power in the Black Sea—A Terminal Decline?

Abstract

This article examines why Ukraine has struggled to build an effective and efficient coastal navy able to protect and advance its interests in the Black Sea and beyond. Using the literature on maritime power the argument explores how Ukraine's ability to use the sea has declined significantly over the last five years. It argues that chronic under-funding of Ukraine's ambitious military transformation, recent decisions taken by the government to extend the Russian lease of Sevastopol and to declare its non-aligned status, and ongoing domestic political instability have all damaged Ukraine's maritime power. Dr. Sanders is Senior Lecturer at the Defense Studies Department, King's College London where she is a specialist on the Black Sea region. She has published extensively on Ukraine's military transformation and is currently working on maritime power and maritime security issues in the Black Sea.