![]() These drones are relatively cheap, accessible, adaptable and effective, and provide a relatively fast and low-profile threat to Russian military ships, particularly when attacks are conducted at night. The Ukrainian navy is not powerful enough to challenge the Russian military dominance in the Black Sea, but it has proven increasingly effective at using high-tech maritime drones to disrupt and target the Russian fleet stationed there. Supplies rely heavily on the Kerch bridge, which is the most direct method of resupply using the road or rail links - but as that has been targeted by the Ukrainians, Russia has also increased the use of the maritime routes into the Crimean port of Sevastopol. ![]() However, maintaining the Crimean logistics hub requires access to the Russian mainland. Russia is relying on Crimea to enable logistic re-supply of Russian forces in occupied southern Ukraine. Why has Ukraine increased its use of sea drones? The new Queen Elizabeth-class UK carriers are strategic assets and cost around £1bn each, and although there is a comprehensive array of defensive capability around such ships, the ease with which the Ukrainians were able to damage Russian ships will inevitably embolden potential enemies.Īnd, the pace at which such technology can be adapted and married to potentially huge quantities of drones, will create an enduring challenge for defence planners. This has led to the widespread use of drones, whether for tactical surveillance of the battlefield, or for long-range strikes against strategic targets.Īlthough it is always difficult to directly link lessons learned from this war into future conflicts, most military analysts believe that huge expansion in the exploitation of drone technology will have profound implications for future defence planning. Ukraine is a David to Russia's Goliath, and has had to resort to asymmetric attacks to avoid a brutal war of attrition which would favour Russia. What are the implications for other fleets across the world? President Zelenskyy has stated he wants to take the war to Russia, to expose the Russian people to the truth behind the rhetoric, and undermine President Putin's power base with the Russian oligarchs.Īttacks on Russian territory and on high-profile targets - such as the Black Sea fleet - all increase pressure on the Russian president. Mr Putin describes Ukrainian attacks as "acts of terrorism", instead of the actions of a nation struggling for its very survival. The population believes that Mr Putin has mounted a "special military operation" in Ukraine with limited consequences for the nation's public. The decision to invade Ukraine was President Putin's decision - and his alone - and he has abused his total control of national media to control the narrative to the Russian people. ![]() ![]() In some respects, drones are like wasps disrupting a summer BBQ - they are unlikely to cause any lasting damage, but they can be a major distraction to the main effort.Īlthough wars are fought on the battlefields, they can also be won by destroying the enemy's will to fight.Īttacking an enemy's centre of gravity - the core of its will to fight - can also bring a war to an early end. Therefore, the damage caused tends to be more psychological than physical, albeit the damage to the Black Sea fleet ships might take some time to repair. See our 2.46pm post post for answers to questions on why Ukraine is using sea drones and how effective they are in comparison to more traditional air drones.ĭrones tend to be relatively small and therefore have limited capacity to carry a large explosive charge. With a rising number of attacks in the Black Sea using sea drones, we asked military analyst Sean Bell questions around the technology, including how and why it is used.
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