A Ukrainian drone unit is targeting Russian ships on the Black Sea as part of a campaign to isolate Crimea and weaken Moscow’s war effort. The unit, operating in southern Ukraine, has hit over 180 vessels and sea-borne targets in the past three weeks.
Ukrainian Drone Campaign
The attacks are designed to raise the cost for Russia of occupying Crimea and to swing the initiative towards Kyiv in the fifth year of full-scale war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian-made FP-1 and FP-2 drones are a staple of Kyiv’s growing arsenal, flying automatically to the operational zone before pilots take over to land the final blow.
The campaign, dubbed ‘Molochko’, aims to ‘ruin the myth’ of Russian domination and establish total control over Ukraine’s territorial waters. The attacks have choked Russian shipping through the Sea of Azov, which receives ships from Russia’s main southern grain-producing region via the Don River.
Russian Response
Russia has stepped up strikes on Ukrainian ports and international cargo ships in response to the drone attacks. At least 10 sailors were killed after Russian forces struck a Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel carrying corn from the port of Odesa. Ukraine’s agriculture minister said shipowners had temporarily suspended vessel arrivals at Ukraine’s Black Sea ports for agricultural exports following the surge in attacks.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
