Russia Prepares Sea Drones for Dnipro: How Drones Will Change the Situation

According to glavcom.ua: Russian troops plan to use sea drones in the Kherson direction. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Russian forces intend to deploy maritime unmanned vehicles in the Kherson area, particularly in the waters of the Dnipro River. This information is based on a publication in the Russian state newspaper 'Izvestia' dated November 21, where sources in the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that airborne units in Kherson will receive sea drones.

Colonel Valery Yuriev, head of the Union of Paratroopers of Russia, stated that sea drones will be used on the Dnipro River and near its islands for various operational tasks, including river crossing operations.

Application and Characteristics of Sea Drones

According to the colonel, sea drones will have a wide range of applications, including combating Ukrainian boats and vessels, supporting landing forces, reconnaissance against the enemy, and can also serve as launch platforms for air drones and transport components of missile artillery.

Military expert Alexey Leonkov added that sea drones can operate effectively regardless of weather conditions, which may complicate the operations of air drones. They can also be used as floating barrage munitions to strike enemy engineering structures.

Attack on Medical Transport in Kherson by Sea Drone

According to ISW, on November 22, a Russian milblogger published a video recording where a drone struck a Ukrainian medical transport vehicle in Kherson. The milblogger stated that Russian troops conclude that vehicles marked with the Red Cross are legitimate military targets.

As a result of this incident, the driver and paramedic in ambulatory care were injured when a Russian drone struck their vehicle in Kherson. This case indicates that Russian forces are employing very harsh methods of warfare against medical personnel.