Pentagon spokesman John Kirby

Russia Could Bring Marines to Mariupol in Another Amphibious Assault

Ivan Gren-class amphibious warship RTS Pyotr Morgunov (117) entering the Black Sea on Feb. 9, 2022. Photo by Yörük Işık‏ used with permission

The Russian Navy could land more of its marines near the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which remains contested nearly two months into Moscow’s invasion, a senior defense official told reporters Monday.

Reports from the Ukrainian military suggest Russia, which has failed to take the port city of Mariupol 54 days into its invasion of Ukraine, might use...

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/18/russia-could-bring-marines-to-mariupol-in-another-amphibious-assault

Ukrainian Forces Still Hold Mariupol as Russians Close In

A street in Mariupol Ukraine from the Facebook page of the 36th Marine Brigade on April 7, 2022.

Ukraine still controls its port city of Mariupol despite concerns that it might soon fall to Russia, a senior defense official told reporters Tuesday.

Mariupol has been a target for most of the nearly 50-day Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia used amphibious landing ships in the early days of the invasion to bring troops outside of the port city.

While it took the Russians longer than expected to...

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/12/ukrainian-forces-still-hold-mariupol-as-russians-close-in

Russian Navy Taking on Resupply Role Nearly 50 Days Into Ukrainian Invasion

Amphibious warship RTS Olenegorsky Gornyak (012) entering the Black Sea on Feb. 9, 2022. Photo by Yörük Işık‏ used with permission

Russian Navy ships in the Black Sea are currently resupplying troops in Ukraine instead of playing an offensive role, a senior defense official said Monday.

Day 47 into the Ukrainian invasion, and the Russian Navy continues to mostly support the invasion. The country has a couple dozen ships in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, the senior defense official told...

https://news.usni.org/2022/04/11/russian-navy-taking-on-resupply-role-nearly-50-days-into-ukrainian-invasion

Intentions of Russian Amphibious Warships in Black Sea Still Unclear

Ivan Gren-class amphibious warship RTS Pyotr Morgunov (117) entering the Black Sea on Feb. 9, 2022. Photo by Yörük Işık‏ used with permission

About a dozen Russian warships remain in the Black Sea, raising concerns that Moscow is still considering an amphibious assault on the Ukrainian city of Odesa.

It is unclear what Russia is planning for the ships, which include amphibious and surface combatants vessels, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters Monday. The Pentagon noted the...

https://news.usni.org/2022/03/21/intentions-of-russian-amphibious-warships-in-black-sea-still-unclear

U.S. Offered Russians Aegis Ashore Inspections to Ease Ukraine Tensions; More American Troops Headed to Europe

Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defense site in Romania on Oct. 14, 2021. US Navy Photo

In a proposal to ease tensions over a Russian military build-up in Ukraine, NATO and U.S. negotiators offered Moscow the opportunity to inspect two ballistic missile defense sites to prove the alliance has no offensive missiles.

The offer for a “transparency mechanism” to ensure there are no Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles at the two Aegis Ashore sites in Romania and Poland is contingent upon Moscow also...

https://news.usni.org/2022/02/02/u-s-offered-russians-aegis-ashore-inspections-to-ease-ukraine-tensions-more-american-troops-headed-to-europe

Federal Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction Against DOD Over Vaccine Mandate

Cmdr. Wilbur Hines , Naval Beach Unit 7 executive officer, from New York City, assigned to Naval Beach Unit 7, receives a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Keating Beach, from Frederick, Md., on Feb. 4, 2021. US Navy Photo

A federal judge granted an injunction that prevents the Navy from taking adverse actions against members of the special warfare community who have refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

United States District Judge Reed O’Connor on Monday granted...

https://news.usni.org/2022/01/04/federal-judge-grants-preliminary-injunction-against-dod-over-vaccine-mandate

Navy Relieves Destroyer XO For ‘Failing to Abide By Lawful Order’

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) arrives at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. Winston S. Churchill changed homeports from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia to Naval Station Mayport where it will be dry docked on July 19, 2021. U.S. Navy Photo

The Navy has relieved the executive officer of one of its Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for “failing to abide by lawful order,” a Navy spokesman confirmed to USNI News.

The service on Friday relieved Cmdr....

https://news.usni.org/2021/12/10/navy-relieves-destroyer-xo-for-failing-to-abide-by-lawful-order

Reagan Carrier Strike Group Now in Indian Ocean, Heading to Middle East

Sailors push back an arresting gear wire after an F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to the Dambusters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 lands on the flight deck of the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). US Navy Photo

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is in the Indian Ocean as it heads to the Middle East to help provide support for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), Carrier Air Wing 5 and its escorts are moving through...

https://news.usni.org/2021/06/21/reagan-carrier-strike-group-now-in-indian-ocean-heading-to-middle-east

Pentagon Said it Was Ready for Extended Suez Canal Blockage

Maxar’s GeoEye 1 satellite took this picture of the Ever Given container ship in the Suez Canal at 11:52 a.m. local time in Egypt on Monday, March 29, 2021. Maxar Photo

After a container ship twice as heavy as a Ford-class carrier halted traffic through the Suez Canal for nearly a week, the Defense Department emphasized that it prepares for this type of scenario.

During a Monday press briefing, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said he could not discuss details on how container ship Ever Given‘s...

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/29/pentagon-said-it-was-ready-for-extended-suez-canal-blockage

+ More