While many news outlets have been wondering what will happen to the Ukrainian navy in Crimea, the question that everyone has really been wondering about has finally been answered: The dolphins in Sevastopol’s combat unit will indeed become Russian.

The combat program trains these hyper-intelligent mammals to patrol open water and attach buoys to items of military interest, such as mines on the sea floor or attack scuba divers who get past security perimeters, reports RIA Novosti.

An anonymous source who works at the training facility told the Russian news service that the Ukrainian Navy lacked the funds for developments to the program so some projects had to be axed.

The source added that he hoped Russia would support the program, which also trains sea lions. We’re sure they will — we know how much Vladimir Putin loves all creatures great and small.

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Main Photo: Vladimir, the animal lover — Source: Kremlin.