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As Ukrainian forces face mounting pressure along the frontlines, Kyiv has resorted to large-scale UAV and naval drone attack on Crimea in an apparent attempt to offset its battlefield losses, amid the recent discussions of the international recognition of Crimea as Russian region. The attack, which unfolded overnight, saw waves of Ukrainian UAVs, accompanied by unmanned boats, targeting Russian infrastructure across the peninsula. However, the vast majority of these strikes were intercepted, underscoring both the scale of Ukraine’s desperation and the resilience of Russian defenses.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the total destruction of 121 Ukrainian drones, including 89 over Crimea, 23 over the Black Sea, 1 over the Sea of Azov and others over Russian border regions. Additionally, according to the official report, Russian naval forces neutralized 10 unmanned boats and a U.S.-manufactured Willard high-speed craft, with two more Ukrainian unmanned boats damaged.
Despite the intensity of the assault, no critical infrastructure suffered damage, though air raid alerts in Sevastopol persisted for much of the night.
The attack followed a well-documented pattern of Ukrainian operation. After they took off in Vilkovo at the mouth of the Danube, about 30 unmanned boats stopped on the Snake Island before splitting into groups targeting Tarkhankut, Donuzlav, and Sevastopol. Some of the vessels launched strikes on gas platforms near the Schmidt and Golitsyn gas fields, though their effectiveness remains in doubt. Meanwhile, kamikaze drones attacked the peninsula, mainly targeting Russian air defense assets, including radar stations and S-300V missile launchers. While these drones carry relatively small warheads, their low-altitude flight profiles make them challenging to detect and intercept.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine published footage from the UAVs reportedly reaching some of the targets:
Ukrainian unmanned boats were accompanied by Russian reconnaissance UAVs:
This escalation was long anticipated. Since mid-April, NATO reconnaissance aircraft, including U-2S, P-8A, and RC-135, have conducted intensive surveillance over the Black Sea, feeding targeting data to Ukrainian forces. LINK Such operations have historically preceded major strikes, and the latest attack suggests Kyiv is preparing for further offensives. With Ukrainian naval drones capable of loitering autonomously for days, the threat of follow-up attacks remains high.
The night assault underscores Ukraine’s dwindling options. Unable to halt Russian advances on the ground, Kyiv is increasingly reliant on symbolic strikes aimed at sustaining Western support. Yet as Russian air defenses continue to adapt, these operations risk becoming costly gestures with diminishing returns. The coming weeks may see further escalation, but without a decisive breakthrough, Ukraine’s strategy risks exhaustion, leaving Crimea firmly under Russian control and the frontline ever more precarious.
