Ukrainians keep occupied Crimea in line of fire. The latest event involved the port of Sevastopol, and naval drones may also have been used, an operation the Russians allegedly foiled by destroying “three objects.”
According to non-detailed information, the action took place when it was still dark in an attempt to break through the defenses of the important base. A first video has surfaced on the internet, but it’s not enough to establish the order. The resistance likely relied on developed aircraft and naval vessels, which were used in an attack back in October. A threat feared by Moscow, which has been taking countermeasures for months: increased patrols, mobile physical barriers at the airport entrance, ships moved further inland, anti-aircraft guns, lookouts and selected teams.
Rumors of some surprises from Kiev in the Black Sea had surfaced again in recent days, and on Monday news leaked of an attack on Dzhankoi, a railway junction also in Crimea, targeting Kalibr cruise missiles designed to to be used on ships and submarines. Shot that, when confirmed, demonstrates good intelligence and is capable of tracking supply convoys. Strikes like these, along with those at sea, are part of a strategy devised after the invasion:
1) They show initiative, they keep the enemy at a distance, they are useful for propaganda, they are used to improve tactics.
2) They can provide a distraction in the history of the conflict while land disputes rage on in the east. When they hit the mark – as in the case of the flagship sunk by missiles – they add a concrete result.
3) Ukrainian activities on the disputed peninsula correspond to military objectives and reinforce the will to retake lost territory.
4) On March 14, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov posted a few-second video on Twitter. He was aboard a now-defunct ship and, citing The Beatles, he hummed “We’re waiting for the yellow submarine,” then the camera framed the surface of the water. The clip could be a hidden message or a joke. One of the many moments of the “war of words” between threats, innuendos, “shootouts” by the protagonists. Wagner boss Prigozhin and Chechnya boss Kadyrov have set standards.
The story of Sevastopol, already the scene of aerial drone strikes, has a larger context. Trying to make the most of the sea front, Ukraine has been looking to the west for material. Apart from the fact that they are pieces of equipment that, given their characteristics, cannot always be sold abroad. There are export restrictions sometimes imposed by national security, there are priorities towards some “customers” and fears that have grown after the damage to the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
Kiev conducted surveys of European suppliers – we don’t know the result – and would have received small defense drones from the UK. His experts then built explosive boats, unmanned, remote-controlled. To the possible technical difficulties are added those of conducting long-distance missions due to the “electronic” contrast fought by the Russians. Speaking of connections, The Economist revealed that Elon Musk would introduce new obstacles to his Starlink satellite network used by Ukrainians, “blocks” that could affect air and sea drones.
In mid-February, Moscow, for its part, attempted to launch a kamikaze boat (or drone) against an arch of a bridge in the Odessa region. Photos later showed his underwater commandos preparing mines for infiltration and wearing respirators made in Italy, components purchased ahead of the Sochi Olympics. A choice that is not surprising given the tradition of our companies, a point of reference at international level. Above and below the sea surface.