Ukraine creates 200-mile security strip in Black Sea using naval drones - intelligence

This is reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate.

Successful attacks by marine drones, along with missile strikes on Russian naval facilities in the Black Sea and near the temporarily occupied Crimea, allowed Ukraine to dislodge Russian ships from the Sevastopol Bay and create a safe sea corridor for merchant ships.

The destruction of Russian Akula and Serna class landing boats, successful attacks on the Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship Sergey Kotov and the aggressor state's reconnaissance vessel Ivan Khurs are the work of Ukrainian military intelligence operators.

"No one has the experience of using marine drones like we do. There are no teachers or textbooks. We are writing these books now," said an intelligence representative with the call sign Thirteenth, who commands a fleet of surface attack drones.

He also explained that the Russians are trying to prevent maritime drone attacks in various ways. Because of this, each new mission requires improvement of both tactics and weapons.

"With each new operation, both we and they [the Russians] learn," Thirteen said.

The intelligence noted that the fact remains that in 2023, thanks to the use of maritime strike drones, Ukraine was able to clear a sea strip of up to 200 miles from the coast from Russians, creating a safe shipping corridor.

"They can be pushed back. Russia's dominance in the Black Sea is over," the soldier summarized.

• Defense Express CEO Serhiy Zgurets told how Ukrainian robotic naval drones MAGURA V5 and SeaBaby are used for reconnaissance, mining and strikes against the Russian fleet.