Recently, Ukraine has been using bomber drones (UAVs) launched from unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to attack major facility targets, including a valuable Russian radar on the Crimean peninsula. Photo: @ The Economist. The attack marks the latest iteration of Ukraine's drone surface campaign to disrupt Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) and destroy enemy military facilities on the occupied Crimean peninsula. Photo: @Army Recognition.
“On the night of July 1-2, 2025, the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine carried out a special high-precision and excellent operation!”, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced on the X social network. Photo: @Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry added that the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed three important components of the valuable Nebo-M radar system on the Crimean peninsula. Photo: @Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The 67-second video posted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense shows the bomber UAV being launched from the bow of an unmanned surface vessel (USV), and then dropping some ammunition at the Russian Nebo-M radar. Photo: @Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
In fact, in March, the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Service (GUR) used first-person view (FPV) drones launched from unmanned surface ships to counter Russian radars and surface-to-air missile systems. Photo: @Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. However, now the use of bomber UAVs launched from unmanned surface ships at sea gives Ukraine certain important advantages. Photo: @Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Using bomber UAVs gives Ukrainian operators the ability to attack more than one target per UAV, with warheads that can be heavier and more numerous than FPV drones can carry. Photo: @Ukraine Ministry of Defense. Bomber UAVs can also fly further while maintaining connectivity, since they don't have to dive to the ground to attack their targets. Photo: @Ukraine Ministry of Defense.
This development is currently being closely watched by Russian military observers. “Ukraine shows footage of a drone attack, with a new element being the use of drones with integrated bomb-dropping systems, with bombs dropping on our positions on the west coast,” noted the popular Russian Telegram channel Two Majors. Photo: @Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. One of the bomber UAVs launched from a Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV) at sea was later said to have been recovered by Russia. The surface drone was later destroyed by a Russian aircraft, the Telegram channel Two Majors claimed without providing specific evidence. Photo: @Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
It is currently unclear how many unmanned surface-to-surface bombers Ukraine is using to attack Russian targets. Photo: @Ukraine Ministry of Defense.
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