Signs that Ukraine is about to launch a larger counterattack

In a new analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces are using unmanned underwater vehicles to “set the stage for future decisive operations” in the Black Sea region. “Ukraine is striking deeper into Russia’s rear areas and maritime targets.”

Russian warships in the port of Sevastopol, Crimea. (Photo: Sputnik)

While focusing on ground attacks in the east and south, Ukraine has also used drone boats to attack targets around the Crimean Peninsula.

“It appears that Ukrainian forces are expanding their offensive efforts to include naval targets,” ISW said.

Russia has accused Ukraine of repeatedly targeting Crimea with surface and underwater drones, including targeting Russia's Black Sea naval base at Sevastopol.

Russian forces have deployed defense systems designed to intercept Ukrainian drones around Crimean ports, including floating defense systems, Newsweek reported, citing analysts. Ukraine has also used UAVs to target Russian infrastructure and military facilities in Crimea.

Late last week, Ukrainian security sources said their forces used unmanned boats loaded with 450kg of TNT to attack and damage a Russian military ship near the port of Novorossiysk, one of the Russian Navy's Black Sea bases.

Meanwhile, Russia denied that the military ship Olenegorsky Gornyak was damaged. However, Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's security service, said the ship was not fit for combat duty and the British Ministry of Defense said the ship was "almost certainly seriously damaged".

Following the attack, authorities said they were boosting defenses along Russia's coast.

In a social media post, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said that with each attack, Ukrainian naval and air drones “become more accurate, their operators more experienced, and their combat coordination more effective.”

Mai Trang (VOV.VN)

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