“We did not betray the oath and the Motherland,” how the legendary frigate returned to Ukraine

Nine years ago, the frigate “Hetman Sahaidachny” entered the Odesa port, despite the order to go to the already occupied Sevastopol. Journalist Oleksiy Mochanov told on Facebook how the events unfolded on the ship in the first days of the war.

“Hetman Sahaidachnyi” is the flagship frigate of the Navy of Ukraine, launched on March 29, 1992. The frigate is armed with one Osa-MA2 launcher, an AK-100 artillery mount, an AK-630M anti-aircraft gun, anti-submarine torpedo and rocket launchers. The ship also had 1 Ka-27PS helicopter in the deck hangar. The power of the engines of “Sagaidachnoy” reached 55.5 thousand horsepower. The ship is designed for 198 crew members, of which 31 are officers.

Since the beginning of combat service, “Sahaidachnyi” has become one of the most “running” ships of the Navy. For example, in 2008, the ship participated in NATO’s anti-terrorist operation “Active Efforts” in the Mediterranean Sea for 3 months.

Subsequently, in March 2013, the frigate set off from Sevastopol on a long sea voyage. Then “Sahaidachnyi” took part in anti-piracy operations “Ocean Shield” in the Indian Ocean and “Atlanta” in the Gulf of Aden.

The ship completed its combat missions only on February 28. “Hetman Sahaidachnyi” arrived at the Suda Bey naval base (Crete island). There was almost no communication in the region, so the crew learned about the beginning of russian aggression in Ukraine already in Crete, recalls one of the officers.

At that time, the russians kept 9 large amphibious ships in the Black Sea. Cruiser “Moskva”, frigate “Smetliviy” and two corvettes were also maneuvering in the region. So the sailors understood that the frigate’s return to Ukraine “may be delayed, or even end in a battle.”

The flagship frigate was an extremely important symbol, especially on the brink of a protracted war. And the rashists understood it. Already on March 1, russian federation began an information attack. RosZMI wrote that “Hetman Sahaidachnyi” allegedly switched to the side of russian federation. To refute this fake, the ship’s crew raised the Ukrainian Navy flag. Photos from the Ukrainian frigate “flied” all over Ukraine. Then there was hope, and later the determination to save the Ukrainian frigate.

Most of the crew did not know until the last where the ship was headed: to occupied Sevastopol or to Odesa. When the “Hetman Sahaidachnyi” was passing the Bosphorus, the traitor of Ukraine, ex-commander of the Navy Denys Berezovsky, contacted the crew and ordered to go to Sevastopol.

The same day in acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine Ihor Tenyukh approved the proposal to go to the port of Odesa via satellite communication. The calculation was already made, and after leaving the territorial waters of Turkey, the ship smoothly deviated from the previous heading.

“Hetman Sahaidachnyi” at a speed of 27 knots went to Odessa. Usually, the passage by sea is carried out at an economical speed. For a frigate, it was 12-14 knots. This speed was also calculated for the transition to Sevastopol. The russians hoped that the crew of “Sahaidachnyi” would save fuel and not risk deviating from the course. However, the enemy was mistaken.

Around six in the morning on March 5, the ship approached the territorial waters of Ukraine to the east of Chornomorsk.

“We only calculated and successfully implemented the plan. – the officers mention. “We did not betray the Oath and the Motherland.”

All the way from the Dardanelles, “Sahaidachnyi” was accompanied by a Turkish missile boat. At that time, it was reported in the news that a frigate of the Turkish Navy was protecting a Ukrainian ship from an attack by russian federation. In a few years, it became known that the mission of the missile boat was different: to follow the arrival of the frigate in the port controlled by Ukraine.

In the end, Odesa became the new “home” of the ship. Thanks to the determination of the senior officers, the frigate was saved from the raiders – as it turned out, just in time. On the night of March 6, the russians blocked the exit of two ships of the Ukrainian Navy from Donuzlav Bay in Crimea. A long period of occupation of Crimea began.

Within a week, the frigate “Hetman Sahaidachnyi” had already defended his Motherland. So, on March 14, a frigate collided with a naval group of Russian ships in Ukrainian territorial waters. When “Sahaidachnyi” approached the group, it entered international waters. How the circumstances would have turned out in the absence of a frigate – one can only guess.

In 2021, the Government allocated UAH 436 million for the repair and modernization of the frigate. In July, “Hetman Sahaidachnyi” went to the “Nibulon” shipbuilding plant in Mykolaiv for repairs.

Unfortunately, with the beginning of a full-scale invasion, on March 4, 2022, the flagship of the Ukrainian Navy had to be sunk so that it did not reach the enemy.

“It is difficult to imagine a more difficult decision for a courageous warrior and the entire team. But we will build a new fleet. Modern, powerful. The main thing now is to stand up,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov commented on this sinking.

Thus ends the story of the legendary ship – the “hetman” of the Naval Forces of Ukraine, who, despite everything, remained loyal to his people.

However, the history of the newest Ukrainian fleet is just beginning. In particular, USM wrote that during the year of the full-scale war with Russia, the maritime potential of Ukraine increased several times.