How Ukraine prepared maritime drones for its successful second attack on the Crimean Bridge
Vasyl Maliuk, Head of Ukraine’s SBU security service, has provided insights into the preparation of maritime drones for a second attempt to sabotage Russia’s Kerch Strait Bridge, in an exclusive interview with NV on Aug. 19.
As detailed in the article “The Bridge that Crumbled,” SBU chief Maliuk reveals, for the first time, the comprehensive account of his team’s two-fold efforts to undermine the Crimean Bridge in August 2023. Key to the success of the second sabotage operation was the leader of a military counterintelligence unit known as “Hunter,” who played a pivotal role in developing the maritime drones.
Ukrainian intelligence experts ingeniously engineered remotely controlled kamikaze watercraft equipped with explosive charges. Fabricated from an innovative material designed to evade enemy radar detection, these devices incorporated three distinct control mechanisms and self-destruct protocols, if necessary.
Read also: Explosions rock occupied Crimea, smoke seen in Sevastopol Bay
These aquatic drones underwent initial real-world testing in combat conditions against Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels, targeting the Admiral Makarov and Admiral Essen frigates during an assault in Sevastopol Bay last autumn. The latter vessel was subsequently dry-docked for repairs following this operation.
Recognizing the drones’ limitations in incapacitating large vessels, the explosive payload was elevated to 850 kg of hexogen. At the same time, the drone’s control systems were enhanced, yielding a markedly improved maritime “avenger.”
Maliuk collaborated with Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, who provided substantial aid in executing the project. The combined efforts of the navy and intelligence agencies led to the formulation of a maritime operation aimed at sabotaging the Crimean Bridge.
Read also: Ukraine opening new front in Kherson Oblast – just 83 kilometers from Crimea
Iterative refinements were made to the drones, including the addition of two long-range Shmel-M rocket flamethrowers to the hull. Certain undisclosed innovations from the SBU further bolstered the drones’ capabilities.
On the early morning of July 17, a series of explosions reverberated across the Crimean Bridge, bringing traffic to a standstill. The Kremlin-appointed proxy and the so-called “Crimean governor”, Sergey Aksyonov, labeled the event as “extraordinary.” Russian media reported substantial damage to at least one span. Rail traffic was later restarted after repairs were finished.
A confidential NV source within law enforcement unveiled the involvement of the SBU and the Ukrainian Naval Forces in the bridge explosions, revealing that surface drones were employed in the attack.
Marat Khusnullin, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, admitted that one span of the Crimean Bridge could not be repaired.
This event marked the second instance of explosions targeting the Crimean Bridge, a conduit used by Russia to transfer armored vehicles and troops to southern Ukraine. The first explosion occurred on Oct. 8, 2022, leading the Kremlin to accuse Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (HUR), of orchestrating the sabotage. In response, the Ukrainian General Staff dismissed these allegations as baseless.
CNN aired footage on Aug. 16 capturing the experimental maritime drone attack that occurred in July.
Maliuk informed reporters that the “Sea Baby” drone was the outcome of months-long development initiated immediately after Russia’s full-scale invasion. He confirmed Ukraine’s involvement in the second sabotage attempt on the Crimean Bridge, a follow-up to the first attempt announced in October 2022.
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