The successful attack by SBU naval drones on a Russian landing ship in Novorossiysk Bay is an outstanding operation by the Ukrainian special services that is seriously changing the situation in the Black Sea.
Despite enhanced security measures at its most extensive naval base and largest commercial port, the Russian Navy has proven unable to defend itself against attacks by Ukrainian maritime drones.
The drones have demonstrated outstanding technical characteristics: Drones require a range of more than 1,000 kilometers and a high-quality control system to plan an attack on Novorossiysk and the Crimean Bridge.
This means that Ukraine can attack any Russian facility on the Black Sea. Russia has to concentrate even more forces to defend its ports and ships, spending enormous resources.
All of this has been done from scratch, because Ukraine had yet to develop such weapons before the full-scale Russian invasion.
Russia has blocked Ukraine's maritime trade by striking ports and ships in Ukrainian waters, stealing and exporting Ukrainian grain and metal. Now Ukraine has long-range arms to symmetrically respond to the occupiers' maritime trade, to restrict marine transportation just as the occupiers did.
Russian maritime trade is a legitimate target for Ukrainian retaliatory strikes.
Not only in the Black Sea, but also far beyond the Black Sea.
Russian ships and vessels can no longer feel safe anywhere.
Text published with the permission of the author