Ukraine’s exploding naval drones hunt Russian ships like tugboats after Black Sea Fleet’s big warships fell back

• Ukrainian special forces deployed Navy drones on Thursday to track a Russian tugboat near Crimea.

• Kiev has been forced to pursue smaller Russian ships in the Black Sea in recent weeks.

• Moscow has withdrawn its larger warships to reduce their vulnerability to attack.

Ukraine is using its arsenal of exploding naval drones to hunt down smaller Russian ships instead of the larger warships of the Black Sea Fleet, which Moscow has withdrawn to reduce their vulnerability to attack.

Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence said one of its special forces units carried out a “successful attack” on Thursday, destroying a Russian military tugboat. The operation against this Project 498 series ship took place near the northwestern corner of the occupied Crimean Peninsula.

“Devastating fire damage was inflicted after the successful breakthrough of the occupiers’ defense line in the Black Sea region,” HUR said in a statement shared on messaging app Telegram, adding that the ship “will no longer sail.”

According to images published by HUR, the operation appears to have been carried out by a Ukrainian surface drone, although the exact model is unclear. Throughout the war, Kiev has relied on a fleet of homemade Magura V5 and Sea Baby drones packed with explosives to carry out devastating missions against ships in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

Footage from Thursday’s operation, captured by a camera on one of the drones, appears to show a rather complex attack.

Several explosions can be seen along the coast and it appears as if the drone is slipping through a hole in the floating defenses. The barrier may have been attacked in advance to allow the drone to pass through, although it is unclear. Russia has relied on these types of defenses – along with moored ships – to protect its ports from Ukrainian naval drones.

After navigating through the harbor, the Navy drone is eventually seen approaching the tugboat. It then appears to crash into the Russian ship, cutting the video link.

Business Insider could not immediately verify the images.

Ukraine has targeted smaller Russian military vessels in the northwestern Black Sea in recent weeks, after Moscow moved its larger, more vulnerable warships out of the area and throughout the region following a series of devastating attacks.

For example, last month Kiev used its naval drones to carry out multiple operations against Russian patrol boats near Crimea.

The battle for the Black Sea has been a notable area of ​​success for Ukraine. Lacking its own navy, Kiev has relied on naval drones and long-range anti-ship missiles to wage an asymmetric style of warfare against the Black Sea Fleet.

Russia has been unable to consistently protect its warships against these threats. It has strengthened its ship defenses and even sent fighter jets to patrol the region. Earlier this year, Moscow also reshuffled its naval leadership, though the personnel changes have done little to save the fleet.

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