Successful attacks by maritime drones, coupled with missile strikes on Russian naval facilities have enabled Ukraine to drive Russia's ships out of Sevastopol Bay and establish a safe sea corridor for merchant vessels.
Ukraine's marine drone attack on the Crimean Bridge on 17 July 2023 was a display of remote operational excellence, with drones being piloted from Kyiv through a specially designed communication system, which did not depend on Starlink.
While Russia still has the advantage, Ukraine is little by little gaining the initiative in maritime, air, and land warfare. And it has not yet peaked.
Our weekly review focuses on events and trends on the frontlines of the Russian-Ukrainian war. We analyze the latest developments in the hottest spots on the war map, strikes on logistics behind the enemy lines, and the impact of such strikes on combat operations.
An experimental Ukrainian marine drone named "Sea Baby" reportedly struck the Russian missile ship "Samum," damaging it near Sevastopol. If confirmed, it would already be the 4th ship destroyed or damaged by 13-14 September strikes.
Costing a fraction of a battleship, Ukraine's drones have delivered a heavy blow to Russia's navy. Russia's $30 billion fleet now sits idle in port, evading Ukraine's cheap but potent unmanned naval siege.
Ukrainian one-way attack maritime drones are still an effective weapon, although Russians destroy about 70% of them, a Ukrainian intelligence chief says.
Ukrainian naval strikes are likely part of a deliberate interdiction campaign aimed at setting favorable conditions for larger counteroffensive operations, ISW said.