The word «Cherkasy» has many meanings and several distinct associations in modern culture. The Russian-Ukrainian war added even more meaning to this word.

Cherkasy is a city in the center of Ukraine, an important transport hub, which has been mentioned in written sources since at least the 13th century.

Cherkasy is an exoethnonym, i.e. the name of the inhabitants of large territories of modern Ukraine in the 15th-18th centuries. Some neighbors often called Cossacks like this.

After all, «Cherkasy» is a ship of the Naval Forces of Ukraine, which did not surrender to the Russian occupiers even after all formal decisions on the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea were made.

There are many versions of what is the literal meaning of «Cherkasy». However, those who identify themselves or work of their life with Cherkasy mostly prefer one of them: Cherkasy are «the people of strength».

Mysterious names and dubious evidence are typical for the history of Ukraine, as many of its sources were lost during the years of statelessness. However, as soon as the conditions allowed, the «people of strength» contributed to self-restoration. This happened in 1997 as well, when, after difficult negotiations and open pressure on part of the Russian Federation in the process of dividing the fleet, Ukraine still managed to start building its own Navy in Crimea.

In 1992, the Black Sea Fleet of the USSR, based on its location, should have been completely transferred to the command of independent Ukraine. However, the ships were forced to continue their dubious service under the naval flags of a non-existent state. It was only four years later that Ukraine began to receive neglected combat units from the famous Red Black Sea Fleet in Crimea. Among them was the «Razvedchik» – a Project 266 minesweeper (code name «Aquamarine»). In the summer of 1997, the ship was assigned the board number U-311 and the name «Cherkasy» as part of the Ukrainian Navy.

Then many cities of Ukraine «appeared» at sea in their own way – as the names of ships. Outdated and often looted by the Russians during the division of the Black Sea Fleet, the ships needed repair and modernization. Various regions of the country were in charge of such a large-scale restoration.

Cherkasy does not have direct access to the sea, but the life of the region is closely connected with ships and naval campaigns. The city is located on the high right bank of the Dnipro River. They know a lot about reconstruction here. The ancient fortress in Cherkasy was destroyed and restored several times, and ultimately a large part of the historical heritage was literally flooded in the reservoir during the Soviet period. Therefore, already in independent Ukraine, the city authorities and the people of Cherkasy actively participated in naval affairs.

Under their supervision, the sea minesweeper was modernized. A ship of this class was designed for the search and neutralization of mines in the most remote corners of the seas and oceans. It is made of stainless steel, has sufficient weapons for conducting combat operations and defense of the maritime zone. The minesweeper has repeatedly participated in international training exercises and gatherings of the Ukrainian Navy ships.

Guests from Cherkasy are welcome in Novoozerne, where the ship was based. Since the first days of the occupation of Crimea, residents of the city go to the front line and organize volunteer assistance. Several generations of Cherkasy residents cheered and supported the crew of the naval minesweeper that bravely held back the Russian assault in the spring of 2014.

Cities and regions of Ukraine are closely connected with each other, often through unexpected stories. Many of them are carried along the waterways and «settled» in seaports. Ochakiv is one of such ports.

Ochakiv is both a military and a tourist city of Ukraine, the gateway to the Dnipro-Bug estuary.

«Ochakiv» is an approximate transcription of the Turkish name of the city of Achi-Kale, «a fortress by the sea», which at the end of the 15th century was controlled by the Crimean Tatars and was repeatedly seized by the Cossacks, in particular under the leadership of the headman of Cherkasy.

«Ochakiv» is also a large anti-submarine ship that was built in Mykolaiv. In 1969, it was admitted into the Black Sea Fleet of the USSR. Later, as part of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, it was sunk in the Lake Donuzlav in order to appropriate the ships of the Ukrainian Navy.

There are several interpretations of the name of the ship. The Russians refused to name it after the Ukrainian city; on the contrary, they continued the imperial rhetoric thereby. During the Soviet years, it was involved in military campaigns and was awarded prestigious honors. The name is reported to be given after the capture of the Achi-Kale fortress by the Russian army and flotilla. In 1788, a Cossack flotilla and a squadron under the command of John Paul Jones defeated the Turkish fleet near Ochakiv. The city was then conquered, and the fortress was burned down by order of the Russian prince Potemkin.  

Already in the 1990s, a fire engulfed the ship of the same name. The Russians tried for a long time to repair «Ochakiv», but eventually put it for storage in Sevastopol in 2011. They planned to send it to scrap metal. However, in 2014, this ship was the first to be sunk to block Ukrainian military forces.

On the night of March 6, 2014, Russian military forces block the way for ships of the Southern Naval Base of Ukraine in Lake Donuzlav. Russian ships, including the «Moskva» flagship, have already been waiting for Ukrainian sailors on the outer roadstead for several days.

In the end, the Russians tow the previously decommissioned «Ochakiv» and place it between the Northern and Southern Spits at the entrance to Donuzlav. Using a fireboat, they fill the ship with water, it loses its stability and capsizes. All this time, the searchlights of Russian ships «blind» the observation post of the Navy of Ukraine. Soon, several smaller diving vessels are sunk nearby.

The minesweeper «Cherkasy» is trapped. Corvette «Vinnitsia», minesweepers «Chernihiv» and «Henichesk», landing ships «Kostiantyn Olshanskyi» and «Kirovohrad», fireboat «Yevpatoria», transport ship «Horlivka», tugboat «Kovel», anti-sabotage boat «Feodosia», torpedo boat «Kherson», and towboat «Novoozerne»  are also blocked in Donuzlav. Only two of them – «Henichesk» and «Kostyantyn Olshanskyi» – stand with «Cherkasy» almost until the end.

When it becomes known that Russian troops are near the naval base, «Cherkasy» begins preparations for the battle. The crew is armed and on guard both day and night. Ukrainian sailors observe the troops without identifying marks through binoculars. They prepare for anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, and anti-boat defense. They to want to break through to Odesa. Finally, they are ordered to sail, so all combat units weighed the anchors. However, the team is late, and this became clear when the ship tries to overcome the artificial obstacles put up by the Russians.

At night, «Cherkasy» is pulled away from the dock so that the enemy cannot get close. They make several attempts to leave the port, using all their efforts to clear the passage. It is not possible to tow sunken ships, the minesweeper is unfit for this. Nevertheless, the ship maintains a perimeter defense even despite being cut off from fresh water. Volunteers, including Crimean Tatars, try to support the crews of the blocked Ukrainian ships during those days, but the occupiers prevent them from doing so. 

The communication system of the Ukrainian military has been effectively destroyed. However, the command of the minesweeper manages to establish contact with experts, and together they make calculations and dare to attempt another breakthrough. A diver finds the way for a possible passage of «Cherkasy» between two sunken ships. It is a risky operation, as the corridor is quite narrow. On March 23, 2014, «Cherkasy» almost succeed in its mission, but a Russian tugboat appears and pushes the Ukrainian ship, causing it to run aground. The crew is ready to give an armed rebuff to the aggressor, but does not receive authorization from the military leadership. They resisted only with fire hydrants.

By March 25, 2014, it is clear that using only fire hydrants is not enough to defend against the Russian Special Forces attacking the ship. The battle lasts for several hours with smoke screens, grenades, and gunfire. The Ukrainians fight off the boats with the help of bollards. The Russians deploy several combat units for the assault on «Cherkasy» – 2 helicopters, 3 speedboats, and a tugboat. First, they descend on board from the air, and then they assist the boats. At the time of capture, the minesweeper's helm already fails. The forces are unequal. By evening, the Russians take control of the last military facility in Crimea under the Ukrainian flag.

Cherkasy, like many other cities of Ukraine, suffers from Russian terror from the first days of the full-scale invasion. However, despite Russian missiles in the sky, the city club of young sailors collects funds for another drone for the Armed Forces. The city is happy to welcome the young defender of Zmiinyi Island, released from Russian captivity.

The names «Cherkasy» and «Chernihiv» are officially given to two Sandown minesweepers, transferred to the Ukrainian Navy by Great Britain. As early as January 22, 2023, these ships set sail under the Ukrainian flag.

Ukraine once again rebuilds the fleet – this time a modern one, made of naval drones. As of March 2023, the General Staff of the Armed Forces reports on 18 ships and boats that the enemy lost during the year of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.