Russians destroy 60-70% of uncrewed surface vessels, but 30% remains dangerous for Russian Navy

The Russian forces manage to destroy up to 70% of the uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) Ukraine launches to hit targets near Russian-occupied Crimea, while a third of them reach their targets and damage Russian warships.

Source: Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), in an interview with Krym.Realii, a project by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Details: The DIU Chief refused to disclose the number of drones used by Ukraine or the tasks they perform. He said there are plenty of drones.

Quote: "For obvious reasons, we cannot say exactly how many drones there are. However, as you can see from our videos, the ones made by the Armed Forces, the ones posted by the Security Service of Ukraine [SSU], you can simply add up how many, give or take. Let's just say it's a lot. It's really a lot.

How effective is this? Since they cause actual losses and the price of such a drone and the cost of a warship are incomparable, this is a rather effective way.

But, of course, they [the Russians] destroy 60%, maybe even 70%. It's true. There is nothing to hide here, as they say. However, the real problem for them is the 30%."

Details: Budanov noted that there were cases when a drone was destroyed near a Russian warship, and then the vessel went "for long-term repairs".

Quote: "For example, there was a story when surface vessels entered the waters of Sevastopol Bay. There was a well-known case. It was destroyed right on the approach to the Admiral Essen frigate. At first glance, this looked like a bad luck situation.

However, the blast wave, since it [the drone] was destroyed about 100 metres from the warship, and the charge is quite powerful, the shrapnel completely damaged the ship's electronic equipment, certain electronics, antennas, some systems and the hydroacoustic device. And it took 3.5 months to repair. It was in the dock for 3.5 months."

Details: The DIU Chief described USVs as an effective deterrent weapon.

"These are not offensive weapons. Of course, they can't be used to attack. But to paralyse the fleet’s activities, which, after all, has happened in principle, has been achieved. The warships do not go further than the Sevastopol raid in the northern direction," Budanov said.

He said Ukraine has mastered "proper mass production" of these vessels. "We’re not making one or two in garages like they used to. This is not the case. We're in the process of normal mass production," he added.

Background:

• Earlier this month, the Security Service of Ukraine posted videos and photos of Sea Baby surface drones.
• The footage was posted after Vasyl Maliuk, Chief of the SSU, told CNN that these drones had attacked the Kerch Bridge on 23 July, as well as the large landing ship Olenegorsky Gornyak and the SIG tanker.
• UK Defence Intelligence said Ukrainian drone attacks had put Russia's military supply routes in the Black Sea "under threat" and that Ukraine had managed to find a weak link.

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