CNN showed the naval drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which attacked the ships of the Russian Federation and the Crimean Bridge
The CNN team visited a secret Ukrainian naval base and showed a surface drone of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Drones of this type allegedly attacked the Crimean Bridge on July 17. As the operator of the boat with the call sign "Shark" reported in the report, such drones participated in the attack in the bay of Sevastopol on the night of October 29, 2022. Little is known about the "unmanned fleet" of Ukraine: according to the crowdfunding platform, about $27 million is needed for its formation.
CNN has published footage of a marine drone. Allegedly, it was such drones that attacked the Crimean Bridge on July 17. The TV channel's team visited the "secret naval base of Ukraine", from where unmanned boats are launched. Its name is not reported. The video says that the drone carries 300 kg of explosives and can hit a target at a distance of 800 km.
"Ukraine is sending naval drones to hunt, surf the waves, and immediately open fire if Russian ships are spotted. Sometimes Russians are lucky and they notice these drones. But sometimes drones break through a hail of bullets and reach their targets. The stunning attack that was carried out on the Crimean Bridge last week shows the chaos that drones can cause. A vital supply route with Crimea was damaged by two such drones," the report says.
The TV channel talked to the operator of the drone with the call sign "Shark". He noted that these drones are easy to control, and "they severely restrict the movements of the Russian fleet."
It is also noted that marine drones are not only used as strike weapons, but also conduct reconnaissance. In addition, it is claimed that they are fully developed by Ukrainian specialists.
CNN asked one of the developers "how effective is the Russian defense against this drone."
- the developer, who wished to remain anonymous, replied.
What is known about the "unmanned fleet" of Ukraine
Until today, little was known about the marine drones that Ukraine uses. Funds for the creation of an "unmanned fleet" are still being collected on a crowdfunding platform. It says that the Ukrainian military needs 100 such devices, while the cost of one such drone is 10 million hryvnia. The total amount for the formation of the "fleet", thus, is about $ 27 million.
The technical characteristics of the device are reported on the platform:
- Length - 5.5 m.
- Weight - up to 1000 kg.
- Range - up to 400 km.
- Range - up to 800 km.
- Autonomy - up to 60 hours.
- Combat load - up to 200 kg.
- Maximum speed - 80 km / h .
- Cryptographic protection - 256-bit encryption.
It is also noted that the communication of drones is provided through Starlink terminals.
The commander of the Ukrainian Naval Forces, Alexei Neizhpapa, who was put on the wanted list by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, previously reported that "such marine drones have already proven their effectiveness and can significantly change the situation in the Black Sea. They can participate in long-range maritime reconnaissance and coastal surveillance, escort and support of the traditional fleet, escorting merchant ships, correcting artillery fire, protecting our bases and countering amphibious operations."
Marine drone attacks
On the night of July 17, the Crimean authorities reported an "emergency" in the area of the 145th pillar of the Crimean Bridge. The people on the bridge heard the explosion. One of the sections of the bridge was damaged. Later, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee called the incident a terrorist attack. According to the NAC, Ukrainian surface drones attacked the bridge at 3:05 Moscow time.
RBC Ukraine, citing sources in the SBU, wrote that the bridge was attacked by naval drones, and called it a joint operation of the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy. The SBU itself did not confirm involvement in the attack.
On the night of October 29, Ukrainian drones attacked ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels in the bay of Sevastopol. The attack involved both aircraft and marine unmanned vehicles. Within a few hours, the attack of the ball was repulsed, no one was injured. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, nine UAVs and seven marine drones were used in the attack, naval weapons and naval aviation were used to destroy them. The ministry noted that the sea minesweeper Ivan Golubets received minor damage.
After the incident, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the suspension of Russia's participation in the grain deal, since Ukraine used the humanitarian corridor for military purposes. Later, participation in the transaction was resumed.
Early in the morning on May 24, three Ukrainian naval drones attacked the Ivan Khurs 140 km from the Bosphorus Strait, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. It was noted that "all enemy boats were destroyed."
However, later the Ukrainian side published a video in which, presumably, one of the unmanned boats, which was shooting from the onboard camera, still reaches the target. It may not have detonated on contact with the ship.
On May 26, the ship returned to the bay of Sevastopol. He had no visible injuries.
"Ivan Khurs" performed tasks in the territorial waters of Turkey to ensure the safety of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines. This task was set after the sabotage on the "Northern Streams" in September 2022 and the attempted attack of the "South Stream", which was stopped by the FSB.
Mikhail Rodionov
