Ukraine peppers Russian Black Sea gas platforms with drones in dramatic footage

Dramatic footage released by the Ukrainian Navy has appeared to show so-called unmanned surface vehicles, nicknamed ‘sea baby drones’, targeting Russian-controlled gas platforms close to the occupied peninsula of Crimea.

The unverified two-minute, seven-second clip appears to show several drones heading toward Black Sea facilities, culminating in explosions that leave at least one platform in flames.

A naval statement declared: “The hunt for the enemy in the Black Sea continues,” adding that “naval drones carried out targeted strikes on Russian targets.”

The statement continued: “Enemy surveillance systems located on captured gas platforms off the coast of temporarily occupied Crimea were destroyed.

“The occupiers will not remain on our territory – we will get them everywhere.”

The film was shared on Saturday – but the precise timing and extent of the damage were not disclosed

The footage seem to highlight a novel tactic, showing one UAV launched from a sea drone toward a platform.

Just before the video cuts out, it approaches two visible figures, probably just prior to detonation. The drones used closely resemble Ukraine‘s “Sea Baby” models, described as capable of carrying “nearly a ton of explosives over 1,000 kilometres,” reported Defense Express.

In March 2024 update, Ukraine’s Security Service highlighted upgrades to the Sea Baby, describing the 2024 version as “enhanced and even more lethal for the enemy.”

The drones have been described as a “game-changer”, apparently being used to target 11 ships, the Kerch Strait Bridge, and other critical infrastructure since 2023.

During May 2023, Ukraine‘s Main Intelligence Directorate estimated that sea drone attacks had inflicted $500 million in damage on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

Spokesperson Andriy Yusov told the Kyiv Post: “These drones are the main and best weapon available to Ukraine.”

Moscow, meanwhile, has sought to play down the threat. On October 23, Russia claimed it intercepted and destroyed “four Ukrainian sea drones heading for Crimea” and shot down 10 aerial drones in the region.

Nevertheless, Ukraine’s continued strikes, such as the November 2023 attack on the Kaspiysk port hundreds of miles from Ukrainian bases, appear to indicate that use of such weapons has become an important tactic.

Since the start of the war in February 2022, Russia‘s Black Sea Fleet has faced significant challenges, many of them inflicted by Ukraine‘s innovative use of drones and missile strikes.

One of the fleet’s most prominent losses was the sinking of its flagship, the guided missile cruiser Moskva, the following April. Ukraine claimed to have struck the vessel with Neptune anti-ship missiles, leading to its eventual sinking.

The incident was a severe blow to Russia‘s naval capabilities and morale, marking one of the highest-profile losses of a major warship in modern naval history. Moscow confirmed the ship’s demise but attributed it to an onboard explosion unrelated to enemy action.

Beyond the loss of Moskva, the fleet has struggled to maintain its dominance in the region amidst frequent attacks on its assets and infrastructure. Ukraine has leveraged its fleet of sea and aerial drones to strike Russian vessels, ports, and supply lines.

The Kerch Strait Bridge, a vital link between mainland Russia and Crimea, has been targeted multiple times, disrupting logistics for the fleet.

Additionally, reported attacks on naval bases, such as the November 2023 strike on Kaspiysk, demonstrate Ukraine’s ability to extend its reach deep into Russian-controlled waters.

These setbacks have forced the fleet to adopt more defensive postures and relocate critical assets, eroding its ability to project power effectively in the Black Sea.