October 8, 2022, Kerch, Russia: A helicopter extinguishes a fire on a bridge linking Crimea to mainland Russia.
Ukrainian sources were quick to claim responsibility for a deadly overnight attack on the Kerch bridge, which connects Crimea to the mainland, a crucial transport and supplies hub for Russian troops in Ukraine. This is the second attack on the bridge in less than a year, following an explosion in October that killed five and caused damage to key sections of the bridge.
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The Ukraine war has already seen extensive use of drones. But the use of these these obscure unmanned "sea drones," used to attack the symbol of Russia's annexation of Crimea, is a taking the tactic to another level.
To military experts Kirill Mikhailov and Yuri Fedorov, the attack on the Kerch bridge shows that Ukrainian sea drones can now hit any target in the Black Sea. They believe that the drones were launched from the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Black Sea coast. This means that the drones traveled about 700 kilometers.
Unrestricted range
"It is quite impressive that they can go around the whole of Crimea and attack from the opposite side of the peninsula,” Mikhailov said. “I believe that within the theater of military operations encompassing the Black Sea, their range is unrestricted."
According to Fedorov, the fact that the drones might have traveled such a distance suggests that they are capable of carrying a significant amount of fuel.
“It is also possible that the weapons are equipped with satellite communications or have a built-in navigation system, and, as they approach the bridge, they can activate a locator or an optical device to reach its target,” he said.
Since the fall of 2022, Ukraine has been carrying out naval drone strikes against Russian targets. According to some assessments, these devices can transport up to 200 kg (440 lbs) of cargo, attain speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph), and rely on the Starlink terminal for navigation.
"The Russian forces should have detected the vehicles using thermal images, radar, and sonar."
One of the most massive strikes was delivered on October 29, when seven sea drones attacked Sevastopol Bay, the base of the Black Sea Fleet.
The attack on Sevastopol showed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine possess four types of sea drones, all of which were improved during the war, according to OSINT analyst H I Sutton.
He refers to one of them as a second-generation maritime drone, while the other is an underwater unmanned vehicle called "Toloka TK-150."
Next target?
"The Russian forces should have detected the vehicles using thermal images, radar, and sonar," Fedorov said. "The fact that the vessels approached undetected was either due to an oversight on the part of the Russian military or insufficient monitoring of the water area."
Mikhailov adds that creating physical barriers in the water is necessary to protect against marine drones.
“Judging by the fact that the Russians have set up barriers in Sevastopol Bay, radar alone will not do the trick,” he said.
According to both experts, the attack on the Crimean bridge will not impact the logistical support for Russian troops on the front lines, as their supplies are primarily transported by rail. This might mean that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will continue to strike the bridge to hit the rail infrastructure.
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