The War Zone – Ukraine’s submersible drone navigated into a protected harbor and detonated very close to the targeted submarine.

The Guardian – Ukrainian naval drones hit two tankers operating under sanctions in the Black Sea as they headed to a Russian port to load up with oil destined for foreign markets, an official said on Saturday, as Kyiv tries to pile pressure on Russia’s vast oil industry.

United 24 – Ukrainian defense forces conducted a coordinated overnight drone strike on military and logistics facilities in Russia’s Novorossiysk port, reportedly damaging a large Russian landing ship of the Project 1171 “Tapir” class, according to Hromadske, citing an informed source.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – Both Russian and Ukrainian media and government sources confirmed an attack on the Laguna-class SIGINT ship Simferopol, a Ukrainian intelligence gathering vessel, that was operating near the mouth of the Danube River.

Center for Maritime Strategy – One of Ukraine’s most significant achievements during the war has been its campaign in the Black Sea. Ukraine has successfully crippled Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. In addition, a report by Business Insider estimated that nearly half of Russia’s naval force on the Black Sea has been damaged or destroyed by Ukraine, a country without a navy. How did Ukraine achieve this success? What does Ukraine’s Black Sea strategy mean for naval warfare?

The War Zone – The attack is an example of the rapidly evolving nature of drone warfare and likely did significant damage to Russia’s ability to surveil Black Sea skies.

Naval News – 3 years ago, in the summer of 2022, four Ukrainian engineers built the countries first maritime drone. Built in great secrecy, that innovative vessel has not been reported until now. This is the vessel which changed naval history and ushered in the new era of drone warfare at sea.

Navy Lookout – In less than three years, Ukraine has achieved staggering successes against the Russian navy in the Black Sea through an agile, low-cost campaign of uncrewed surface vehicles (USV) and drone strikes. Here we look at the details of this campaign and the profound implications for procurement, tactics and doctrine for global navies.

Defense News – Ukraine’s fleet of unmanned surface vessels is expanding with the emergence of a new, smaller type dedicated to riverine warfare for countering Russian presence in key waterways.

The War Zone – Ukraine launched bomber drones from sea drones and took out a prized Russian Nebo-M radar system ashore in Crimea.

CIMSEC – Over the past few years, Ukraine’s growing use of naval drones has pushed both sides to rapidly adapt, accelerating the race for countermeasures and maritime innovation. NATO would do well to study Ukraine’s approach as it prepares for the future of warfare at sea.

Naval News – Ukraine has successfully shot down two Russian jets sent to interdict their surface drones in the Black Sea. We can reveal the previously unreported surface drone (USV) which scored the kills using American Sidewinder missiles.

Naval News – A Ukrainian maritime drone operated by Group 13 of military intelligence (HUR) has made history, being the first uncrewed vessel to successfully shoot down an enemy fast jet. The historic event took place on May 2 close to the strategic Russian naval base of Novorossiysk in the eastern Black Sea. This single event reflects the rapidly changing world of naval warfare.

Naval News – The war in the Black Sea is often characterised as the surface drone’s arena. Ukraine has gained the upper hand, against the odds, and now denies Russia sea control. It is an aspect of the war where Ukraine holds the cards.

The Guardian – Captain Oleksandr put his hand on the throttle and nudged it forward. His patrol boat roared into action and zipped through the waves. Behind him was the Ukrainian port of Odesa. In front – beyond a grey expanse of water, and 180km (112 miles) away, was occupied Crimea. “We’re here to stop the Russians from taking the Black Sea,” Oleksandr said, as his boat – travelling at a nippy 30 knots – rolled up and down.

UK Defence Journal – The Ministry of Defence is putting two newly developed uncrewed maritime systems—Snapper and Wasp—through final testing.

(Thanks to Alain)

The War Zone – Ukraine has claimed that it’s successfully used uncrewed surface vessels (USV), better known as drone boats, to launch aerial drones against Russian targets for the first time. According to Ukrainian authorities, the first-person view (FPV) drones were employed in combat during strikes on Russian ground-based air defense systems.

MarineLink – Ukrainian military intelligence said one of its naval drones had destroyed a Russian helicopter and damaged another one in the Black Sea.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – The pace of innovation in the drone war in Ukraine is like aviation during the first world war. In the same way that the aircraft of 1914 are incomparable to those of 1918, the drones of today are so much more sophisticated and capable than those of 2022. This is especially true in the naval war in the Black Sea. The latest Ukrainian surface drone (USV) pushes the envelope even further.

The War Zone – Ukraine for the first time struck a target in Russia’s Dagestan region on Wednesday, according to local and Ukrainian officials, eyewitnesses, and Russian and Ukrainian media. The military port at Kaspiysk on the Caspian Sea was attacked by Ukrainian drones about 670 miles from the front lines.

RUSI – A consideration of other options shows that the success Ukraine has had in keeping the Russian Black Sea Fleet at bay could only have been achieved using uncrewed vessels.

The War Zone – The destruction of the ship full of fuel tank train cars at a port in the Kerch Strait yesterday will hamper Russia’s ability to supply troops and the Crimean peninsula with fuel and lubricants, according to the Ukrainian Navy and the popular Crimean Wind Telegram channel. As we reported yesterday, the Conro Trader, a Russian Roll On Roll Off (RORO) vessel with a reported 30 fuel tank cars aboard, erupted in a ball of flames at the Port of Kavkaz.

CBC – German network ARD chartered yacht and divers to see how sabotage occurred.

The War Zone – Ukraine claims it struck and sunk the Russian Russian Navy Improved Kilo class diesel-electric attack submarine Rostov-on-Don in an attack on Sevastopol “by units of the missile forces, in cooperation with units of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff claimed on Telegram.

The War Zone – A highly-modified jet ski loaded with explosives has been found off the Turkish coast near Istanbul. The uncrewed vehicle is likely part of a growing armada of Ukrainian kamikaze drone boats that have been notably effective in disrupting Russian Navy activities in the Black Sea and have sunk or damaged multiple warships.

(Thanks to Alain)