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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/27/drones-ships-ukraine-russia-navy-attack-marichka-war/

Ukraine unveils suicide submarine to take out Russia's warships
Kyiv has created its first naval drone brigade after huge investment
produces dividends in attacks on Kremlin boats

By
James Kilner
27 August 2023 • 1:40pm
boats
Ukraine's sea drone boats
Ukraine has established its first naval drone brigade and also unveiled
its largest and most destructive uncrewed suicide submarine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky presented new colours to the 385th Separate
Brigade of Special-Purpose Marine Unmanned Systems at a Ukrainian
Independence Day parade on Thursday.

Marine drones have become one of Ukraine’s most successful weapons and
in an interview Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military
intelligence, said that Russia was now spending huge resources training
dolphins, building nets and installing jamming equipment trying to stop
attacks.

“Of course 60 per cent, maybe even 70 per cent, of the drones they
destroy. It’s true. There is nothing here, as they say, to hide. However
for them, the problem is the remaining 30 per cent,” he told a Ukrainian
military website.

general
General Kyrylo Budanov, 37, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, in
his office in Kyiv CREDIT: Laurent Van Der Stockt/Getty

The Ukrainian military has steadily built up the sophistication,
accuracy and range of its naval drones, from attacking the Russian Black
Sea Fleet in occupied Crimea to targeting warships in the harbour of
Novorossiysk 200 miles away and now ports towards Bulgaria and Turkey.

The huge investment in Ukraine’s marine drones since the start of the
war has made it one of the largest and most sophisticated fleets in the
world, according to Navalnews.com, a specialist naval defence news website.

Surface naval drones have carried out almost all of Ukraine’s attacks
but now it is launching a submarine drone, a black 20ft-long vessel
called Marichka.

“Marichka will hit the ships on the underwater part, which can be even
more destructive for the warships,” Navalnews said.

“A swarm of these suicide underwater uncrewed vehicles is very hard to
defend.”

Earlier this year, Ukraine launched a far smaller submarine drone called
the Toloka but it is unclear if it has yet been used to attack the
Russian navy.

Related Topics
Explained Ukraine war, Russia-Ukraine war, Drones (aircraft)
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Related Topics
Explained Ukraine war, Russia-Ukraine war, Drones (aircraft)

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