In recent years, Ukraine has been increasingly employing unmanned boats to lay mines and target Russian warships in the Black Sea. This has forced Moscow to reposition its forces to mitigate losses, resulting in a strategic shift for both sides.
In September 2023, the Russian corvette Samum was attacked by Ukrainian unmanned boats shortly after leaving Sevastopol Bay. This marked the first time a Russian warship had been disabled by mines laid by Ukrainian unmanned boats. The incident highlighted the growing threat posed by these new weapons systems and prompted Russia to take action.
General Ivan Lukashevych, who leads Ukraine’s unmanned surface vehicle (USV) development program, noted that USVs are now being used in offensive operations, a departure from their previous role in surveillance and logistics. Ukraine claims to have damaged or sunk around 20 Russian warships using these USVs, including targeting the Crimean Bridge over the Kerch Strait.
In response to this threat, Russia had to redistribute its Black Sea Fleet forces to different bases in the region. This reallocation meant that Russian missile delivery times were extended, giving Ukrainian air defenses more time to intercept incoming missiles. Additionally, Russia had to deploy aircraft and electronic warfare systems to counter USV attacks, diverting resources from other operations.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is collaborating with the Ukrainian Navy to enhance USV capabilities due to a lack of large warships in the country’s arsenal. General Lukashevych aims to develop a fleet of 10-20 USVs with diverse functions to match the capabilities of a conventional warship. Recent tests involved equipping USVs with rocket launchers for shore attacks.
Despite their success in disrupting Russian naval activities, Ukrainian USVs have provoked countermeasures from the Russian side. Russia has implemented robust barriers to prevent USV incursions into naval ports and is developing its own USVs for offensive purposes. Moreover, they have employed helicopters and unmanned seaplanes to target Ukrainian USVs and their infrastructure.
The rivalry between Ukrainian and Russian USV technologies continues to escalate, with each side striving to gain the upper hand in maritime warfare. While the use of USVs has given Ukraine a strategic advantage against a more powerful adversary, Russia’s response indicates its commitment to neutralizing this threat. Efforts