Ukraine has destroyed 15 Russian naval vessels in Black Sea during full-scale war
Ukraine's military says its operations had destroyed 15 Russian naval vessels in the Black Sea since the start of the invasion and that 12 other vessels had been damaged.
Many Russian ships were damaged, in particular, by newly-made sea drones, says the spokesman of Ukrainian Naval Forces Dmytro Pletenchuk
"We are the drivers of a new type of naval warfare. In this sense, Ukraine is showing a new level of application of unmanned systems," said Pletenchuk.
The Ukrainian Navy has a separate brigade that uses surface and underwater drones for reconnaissance and firepower.
As of November 17, the General Staff confirmed destruction of two ships and boats. Presumably, the 15 ships claimed to have been destroyed by the navy spokesman are included in this number.
Over the year the fleet of naval drones has hit eight Russian vessels: Admiral Makarov, Ivan Golubets, Ivan Khurs, Sergei Kotov, Neftovy Mayak, Novorossiysk, Akula and Serna.
The South Forces Group spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk noted that Russian invaders are mining the Black Sea from the air to disrupt civilian shipping, which is supported by the Ukrainian forces.
Russian forces have moved some of their ships from the occupied Crimea to Novorossiysk, but this port cannot accommodate all Russian ships, so the Russia started using the occupied part of Georgia.
