KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The commander of maritime drone operations for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency says more complex strikes against Russian forces are expected next year, after Kiev’s unmanned fleet managed to curb the movements of Russia’s once-dominant Black Sea fleet.
In an interview with The Associated Press, the head of the specialized maritime drone unit, Group 13, said that Ukraine’s attacks forced Russia to adapt, limiting the opportunities for large strikes in the Black Sea seen earlier in the war.
“Today, we probably reached a plateau,” said the official, who is identified only by the call sign “13th” under Ukrainian military protocol.
“We are effectively limiting the enemy’s movements, but those dramatic, high-profile attacks that we saw before have not happened for quite some time. That’s because the enemy has adapted.”
Last month, Ukrainian officials said maritime attack drones had been used in attacks against vessels in Russia’s sanctions-evading “parallel fleets” of oil tankers. The commander refused to comment on those operations.
The official said Russian naval vessels “barely operate,” often only coming within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of the port to fire missiles before withdrawing. “They hide constantly. And in a way, this is also a result of our unity – because you can imagine the cost of maintaining a fleet that cannot operate at sea.”
The officer spoke in uniform, his face covered and eyes covered by tinted glasses. For security reasons, the intelligence agency requested that the location and other details of the interview not be disclosed.
Drone technology has become vital to Ukraine’s military, offering an inexpensive tool for reconnaissance and strikes in the fight against Russian encroachment. Its two naval drone programs are run separately by its military and domestic intelligence services.
Group 13 operates the Magura family of maritime drones, which Ukraine credits with many attacks on Russian vessels.
The unit currently deploys two variants — the V5, a smaller ramming drone, and the larger V7, a weapons platform. Both are remotely controlled using briefcase-sized consoles equipped with joysticks, screens and safety switches.
In a recent demonstration, operators displayed a V7 equipped with modified US-made Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. In May, the intelligence agency said a Magura drone shot down a Russian fighter jet – a development the commander called a “breakthrough” in maritime warfare.
He said the next stage of Ukraine’s drone evolution will depend on deeper integration of artificial intelligence, using a growing archive of operational video and sensor data to improve targeting and reduce operator workload.
“Right now, target search is a combined process — part operator, part AI,” he said. “In the future, you will launch the drone and it will independently search for a target, distinguish civilian vessels from military ones, and make more decisions.”
Ukraine’s military, he added, had a “huge amount” of operational data available to further train AI models.
Although he did not comment on specific development plans within the intelligence agency, 13th said that countries exploring longer-range strike options, submersible drones and more complex mixed fleet operations see such systems as a logical next step.
Ukraine is also looking to expand drone co-production with several NATO countries next year.
During a visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Athens last month, Kyiv and Greece announced plans for joint work on maritime unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), expanded training and exercises, and information sharing on maritime threats.
Despite Russia’s adjustments, the commander said Ukraine’s maritime drone program is still effective.
“We are working on many fronts to change this situation and create a turning point,” he said. “For now, I can say this: We have not lost effectiveness. We have simply reached a point where we are keeping the enemy in check.”
___
Oleksii Yeroshenko contributed to this report.