Repeated attacks on Russian vessels show that, even if the Ukrainian army does not have a navy, it can compete with Moscow at sea as well.
Military analysts conclude that since the beginning of Russian aggression, Kiev has systematically worked to strengthen the effectiveness of weapons that play an unprecedented role in the current war.
While most of the available footage of the attacks on the Russian ship is shot from a first-person perspective (FPV – First Person View) cameras directly on Ukrainian suicide naval drones, this time a video shot by the Russian side appeared on the networks.
The footage allegedly shows a Ukrainian drone near the coast of the occupied Crimea peninsula, which is subsequently destroyed by a Russian helicopter. The video was posted by the Telegram channel of the Russian Ministry of Defense, and other footage was posted by the Russian Telegram account warhistoryalconafter.
The video appeared at a similar time when Ukraine https://twitter.com/DI_Ukraine/status/1787454963297239060 another attack on a Russian vessel in the occupied Crimea peninsula. The Krym.Realiya account on the Telegram social network reported that several unmanned boats of the Ukrainian forces were allegedly destroyed near the west coast at night, targeting Russian warships.
Expert: Ukraine’s achievements at sea are incredible
According to former US Navy intelligence officer Steven Horrell, all of NATO has something to learn from the developments in the Black Sea. “Ukraine showed us how important it is to think differently and outside of established patterns,” he says in an interview for Seznam Zprávy.
Expert server The Warzone or analyst and naval expert HI Sutton draw attention to one new feature that the Ukrainian drone has in the footage. It is a missile carrier carrying two AA-11 ARCHER (R-73) air-to-air missiles.
The Russian Telegram channel FighterBomber, which deals with military issues and has good sources in this area, also points to the news.
He says that air-to-air missiles launched from a naval drone have not yet been used in combat, but pose a risk especially to Russian helicopters, which he says are the most effective means of targeting Ukrainian unmanned vessels.
Until now, drones have been almost defenseless against aircraft, and Russia has air superiority over much of the Black Sea. Despite this, they managed to engage many warships. The addition of air defenses could make it even more difficult for Russia to defend against naval drones, The Warzone and analyst HI Sutton agree.
