Türkiye's closure of the straits prevented Russia from capturing Mykolaiv and Odesa

Defense of Mykolaiv. Archive photo NikVesti

Turkey, by closing the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits in accordance with the Montreux Convention, helped restrain Russian aggression at sea, which prevented the capture of Mykolaiv, Odesa and other territories of Ukraine.

Ambassador of Ukraine to Türkiye Vasyl Bodnar told about this in an interview with Ukrinform.

«One of the key stages of Ukraine's defense was Türkiye's closure of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. We sank one «Moscow», and two more Russian cruisers were waiting in the Mediterranean. And the fact that Turkey closed the straits, I believe, prevented Russia from using its superiority at sea to seize Odesa, Mykolaiv and other territories that, according to Moscow's plans, were to be occupied as a result of operations from the sea,» the ambassador is confident.

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Bodnar also emphasized that this strategic action by Türkiye not only strengthened Ukraine's defense capabilities, but also contributed to the strengthening of transport cooperation between the two countries.

«Previously, when ships with cargo for Ukraine stopped in Turkish ports, the regulatory framework did not allow the entry of Ukrainian carriers to transport these cargoes. Transport visa-free continues. Without any licenses and permits, our companies transport cargo that Ukraine desperately needs from Turkish and other ports through the territory of Turkey,» said Bodnar.

Previously, retired Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmytro Marchenko talked about the key moments of the defense of Mykolaiv in the spring of 2022.

Defense of Mykolaiv

The first explosions in Mykolaiv occurred around 5 am on February 24. On the same day, Russian troops tried to bypass Kherson from the east and continue the offensive on Mykolaiv.

The occupiers tried to surround Mykolaiv. During an attempt to enter Mykolaiv on March 4, 2023, Russian troops tried to divert the attention of the city's defense forces, Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmytro Marchenko said in an interview with NikVesti. To do this, several units of enemy vehicles entered the territory of the Kulbakinskyi airport, but they were repulsed by a group of police. After an unsuccessful maneuver in Kulbakyne, the Russians' attempt to enter Mykolaiv failed.

Since the beginning of the Great War, Major General Dmytro Marchenko, who was in charge of the defense of Mykolaiv, was ordered to blow up the Varvarivskyi bridge 8 times. However, he managed to convince the highest command not to blow up the bridge, because then the city could be completely surrounded — at that time Mykolaiv was blocked in three directions out of four.

Secretary of the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, SSU Colonel Roman Kostenko believes that the defense of Mykolaiv is one of the most tragic victories of this war. After all, it made it possible to protect not only Odesa, but also Moldova from the invasion of the invaders.