Press
The Crimean bridge is to be protected from attacks by Ukraine by new barriers. Russia’s concern: the new generation of Ukrainian water drones.
Crimea – In the ongoing Ukraine War Kiev has already been able to inflict significant losses on the Russian Black Sea Fleet through the use of sea drones. But it was not only Putin’s ships that were repeatedly targeted by the drones – the attack on the Crimean Bridge in July 2023 was also carried out by the “Sea Baby” water drone. Satellite images now show how Russia is trying to prevent further successes by Ukraine by putting up new barriers.
The Black Sea off the occupy Crimean peninsula has become a place of failure for Russia. In addition to the high level of damage to Putin’s Black Sea fleet, the successes at the Crimean Bridge during the war were particularly important for Kiev: In July 2023, two Ukrainian sea drones called “Sea Baby” severely damaged a support and the roadway of the bridge. The Kerch Bridge connects the annexed Crimean peninsula with the Russian mainland and serves Russia as an important supply route during the war. In order to stop precisely this supply chain, Kiev has already announced the goal of wanting to destroy the bridge in the “first half of 2024”.
Ukraine threatens to destroy Crimean bridge: Russia builds new barriers out of fear of sea drones
This threat from the Ukrainian secret service HUR is apparently being taken very seriously in Moscow. Russia is said to have erected new barriers made of small barges in the Black Sea in front of the Crimean Bridge. This is reported by the Ukrainian portal Defense ExpressAccording to the report, satellite photos show how Russia has already installed seven sections of barriers. Each section is 90 to 100 meters long and is intended to protect the bridge from attacks by Ukrainian sea drones.
Statements by Russian military bloggers also show how great the fear of Ukraine’s efficient surface drones is. The combat drone “Sea Baby” was further developed by Kiev during the war and can now be equipped with multiple rocket launchers. Military bloggers close to the Kremlin therefore fear that the new version of the drone could “create some problems in the already troubled Black Sea,” reports Newsweek.
Although the accuracy of the drones is “naturally lacking,” the new “Sea Baby” should no longer be classified as just a kamikaze drone, but as “a fully combat-ready unit.” Russia must now find ways to “combat these and introduce similar weapons.”
Is Ukraine attacking the Crimean bridge with sea drones? Expert warns – Russia worried
The barriers in the Black Sea in front of the Kerch Bridge have now been adapted, not to fight the drones, but at least to be able to ward off attacks. This time, the barriers will not consist of barrels with cables, but of small tugboats. These are also supposed to be able to withstand stormy weather better and thus offer more effective protection against Ukraine’s water drones.
It is unclear whether and to what extent Ukraine will launch another attack on the Crimean bridge. HUR-Officer, however, the British portal The Guardian said that the destruction of the bridge was “unavoidable”. While the destruction was said to have already been approved in Kiev, a former employee of the Ukrainian domestic intelligence service fears a waste of resources and energy. Ukraine does not have enough means for such an attack, and the Kerch Bridge was quickly restored after Ukraine’s past successes. It is now also clear that Putin’s troops are apparently no longer using the bridge for military purposes. (nbe)
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