Ukrainian Navy Destroys Three Russian Unmanned Surface Vessels

The Ukrainian Navy destroyed three Russian unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in a single operation.

The Ukrainian Navy reported on Facebook that the vessels were detected and eliminated through coordinated efforts with the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.

According to the statement, the successful operation was made possible by close cooperation between the Navy and military intelligence forces.

The military also released footage showing the destruction of one of the Russian unmanned surface vessels.

“Each successfully repelled attack means lives saved and another blow to the aggressor’s plans,” the Ukrainian Navy said.

The military did not disclose when or in which area the Russian unmanned surface vessels (USVs) were detected and destroyed.

However, the day prior, Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s Defense Minister, shared that a group of Russian USVs had attempted an attack.

According to him, at around 4 a.m. on June 23, Russian forces attempted to use unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to attack Ukraine’s coastline.

As a result of coordinated efforts by multiple units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, all of the vessels were detected and destroyed at sea before they could reach their targets.

Beskrestnov identified the location where the Russian unmanned surface vessels (USVs) were detected and destroyed, placing it near the Tendra Spit off the coast of the temporarily occupied Kherson region.

He also said the Russian vessels were equipped with Starlink satellite communication systems, which Russia relies on to control its USVs over long distances due to the lack of alternative communication capabilities.

This was not the first attempt by Russia to attack Ukraine using naval drones. In particular, this May, such a device struck the training sailing vessel Druzhba in the port of Odesa.