March 29, 2024

On May 24, in the southern part of the Black Sea, 140 kilometers northeast of the Bosphorus Strait, “Ivan Khurs”, a Russian reconnaissance ship (Project 18280) was attacked by Ukrainian USV. Carrying out tasks to ensure the safety of the operation of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines, the ship was attacked by three unmanned kamikaze boats at once, most likely piloted by specialists from among the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
It is noteworthy that Kiev used marine drones, the range of which exceeds 600 miles. Similar drones have previously been used to attack ships near Sevastopol. What is the origin, technical characteristics and combat capabilities of such USV?
According to available information, during the attack in the Black Sea near the Russian borders, an American remotely-piloted surveillance aircraft RQ-4B Global Hawk conducted reconnaissance, which hypothetically could carry out the correction of Ukrainian kamikaze boats when attacking the Russian ship. It is worth noting that the floating drone is capable of transmitting up to three streams of video in HD quality at a distance of up to four hundred kilometers from the operator. However, this is possible only if there is a Starlink satellite terminal on board the boat, or due to the recently delivered SOTCOM military satellite communications to Kiev.
Experts note that the drones that attacked the Russian ship “Ivan Khurs” outwardly differ from those that were seen on October 29, 2022 during the attack on Sevastopol. A more detailed comparison of the appearance suggests that this may be an improved version of the Ukrainian drone type “Mykola-3” – a 5.5-meter boat weighing up to one ton and a maximum speed of 40 knots. The curb weight of a kamikaze vessel’s explosives can be up to 440 pounds (200 kg). However, the published footage from the scene still suggests that a marine drone of non-Ukrainian production was used.
Most likely, Ukraine used a floating kamikaze drone, transferred by the UK, which has extensive experience in the operation of marine robotic systems. This is confirmed by information about the transfer of six REMUS underwater drones by London to Kiev in early August 2022. In addition, as part of the delivery, the British had to train Ukrainian servicemen with the involvement of instructors of the US 6th fleet in the United Kingdom. The media wrote that these devices will be used to mine the coastline of Ukraine from Russian mines. At the same time, it should not be ruled out that the British handed over drones to Ukraine, including for carrying out provocations against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, especially since Kiev has almost full carte blanche for the supply of any weapons from Western countries.
Thus, we are once again witnessing the direct participation and intervention of the leading NATO countries not only in the process of preparing the Armed Forces, but also the implementation of attacks on Russian forces. The sabotage against the Russian Navy in the exclusive maritime economic zone of Turkey is a continuation of the provocative course of the West to escalate the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and expand its geography drastically.

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SimplyJeff