Editing Black Sea (section)

==== 21st century ====
During the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], [[Snake Island (Ukraine)|Snake Island]] was a source of contention. On 24 February 2022, two Russian navy warships [[2022 Snake Island campaign|attacked and captured Snake Island]].<ref name="MayHaveSurvived">{{cite news |last=Lamothe |first=Dan |date=26 February 2022 |title=Ukrainian border guards may have survived reported last stand on Snake Island |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/02/26/ukraine-russia-snake-island/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227032528/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/02/26/ukraine-russia-snake-island/ |archive-date=27 February 2022}}</ref> It was subsequently bombarded heavily by Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 May 2022 |title=Ukraine war: Snake Island and battle for control in Black Sea |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61406808 |access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref> On 30 June 2022, Ukraine announced that it had driven Russian forces off the island.<ref name=kosiw>{{Cite news |title=Ukraine says it has pushed Russian forces from Snake Island |last=Koshiw |first=Isobel |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 June 2022 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/30/ukraine-forces-reportedly-recapture-snake-island-in-strategic-win}}</ref>

On 14 April 2022, the flagship of the [[Black Sea Fleet]], [[Russian cruiser Moskva]] was sunk by Ukrainian missiles.<ref name=peck>{{Cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/14/ukraine-russian-missile-cruiser-moskva-warship/ | title=Russia says flagship missile cruiser has sunk after explosion off coast of Ukraine | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=14 April 2022}}</ref>

As early as 29 April 2022 submarines of the Black Sea Fleet were used by Russia to bombard Ukrainian cities with [[Kalibr]] [[SLCM]]s.<ref name="reut29">{{cite news |title=Russian submarine strikes Ukraine with cruise missiles, defence ministry says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-submarine-strikes-ukraine-with-cruise-missiles-defence-ministry-2022-04-29/ |publisher=Reuters |date=29 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="reut04">{{cite news |title=Russia says it fires cruise missiles from submarine, warns again on NATO arms shipments |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-it-disables-ukrainian-railway-stations-used-transport-western-2022-05-04/ |publisher=Reuters |date=4 May 2022}}</ref> The Kalibr missile was so successful that on 10 March 2023 Defense Minister [[Sergey Shoigu]] announced plans to broaden the type of ship which carried it, to include the [[corvette]] [[Steregushchiy]] and the nuclear-powered cruiser [[Russian battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov|Admiral Nakhimov]].<ref name="msrn">{{cite news |last1=Starchak |first1=Maxim |title=Russian Navy to upgrade vessels with Kalibr cruise missiles |url=https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/03/10/russian-navy-to-upgrade-vessels-with-kalibr-cruise-missiles/ |publisher=Defense News |date=10 March 2023}}</ref>

On the morning of 14 March 2023, a Russian [[Su-27]] fighter jet intercepted and damaged an American [[MQ-9 Reaper]] drone, causing the latter [[2023 Black Sea drone incident|to crash into the Black Sea]]. At 13:20 on 5 May 2023 a Russian [[Su-35]] fighter jet intercepted and threatened the safety of a Polish [[L-140 Turbolet]] on a {{qi|routine [[Frontex]] patrol mission.. and performed 'aggressive and dangerous' manoeuvres}}.<ref name="cmrf">{{cite news |last=Mihai |first=Catalina |title=Russian fighter plane intercepts Polish aircraft over Black Sea, Romania confirms |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/russian-fighter-plane-intercepts-polish-aircraft-over-black-sea-romania-confirms/ |website=EURACTIV |date=8 May 2023}}</ref> The incident, which occurred {{qi|in international airspace over the Black Sea about 60km}} east of Romanian airspace,<ref name="tdprj">{{cite news |title=Russian Jet Intercepts Polish Plane Over Black Sea: Romania |url=https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/05/07/russian-jet-intercepts-polish-plane/ |agency=AFP |website=The Defense Post |date=7 May 2023}}</ref> {{qi|caused the crew of five Polish border guards to lose control of the plane and lose altitude.}}<ref name="pbgdw">{{cite news |title=Poland Border Guard says patrol intercepted by Russian jet |url=https://www.dw.com/en/poland-border-guard-says-patrol-intercepted-by-russian-jet/a-65541526 |agency=AFP, dpa |website=Deutsche Welle |date=7 May 2023}}</ref>

As of January 2025, neither Ukraine nor Russia control the Black Sea, making it contested, claims [[Estonian Navy]] Commander Ivo Värk. "The entire Black Sea can currently be seen as a contested maritime area where both sides have some room for action,". This room is greater near the coasts, where both sides benefit from air defense systems, sea mines, and various land-based weaponry. Ships only move out for specific operations to prevent excessive risks. He also noted that both parties operate gas drilling platforms equipped with surveillance devices to monitor the situation, but that those platforms often change hands.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Estonian Navy Commander: Black Sea a Disputed Area in Naval Warfare - Oj |url=https://odessa-journal.com/commander-of-the-estonian-navy-neither-russia-nor-ukraine-dominates-in-the-black-sea |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=odessa-journal.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 January 2025 |title=Kreml meldet Einnahme der Stadt Kurachowe |url=https://www.n-tv.de/politik/10-13-Beide-Seiten-haben-keine-Kontrolle-ueber-Schwarzes-Meer--article23143824.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106093103/https://www.n-tv.de/politik/10-13-Beide-Seiten-haben-keine-Kontrolle-ueber-Schwarzes-Meer--article23143824.html |archive-date=6 January 2025 |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=[[n-tv]] |language=de}}</ref>