Global
The Black Sea witnessed, last Saturday, what Kyiv described as the first direct engagement in history between two unmanned naval vessels, as a Ukrainian naval drone successfully sank a Russian uncrewed boat. This event highlights a notable development in the use of unmanned naval systems. The Ukrainian Navy revealed its reconnaissance detected a Russian uncrewed vessel in an unspecified area of the Black Sea. Subsequently, a Ukrainian naval drone was deployed, maneuvering near the targeted Russian boat, then opened fire with a heavy machine gun, leading to its complete sinking. The Ukrainian Navy confirmed this event via "Telegram," stating, "This is the first naval battle in history between unmanned boats." A video was also published showing the destruction of a small boat, though its identity could not be independently verified. This development aligns with Ukraine and Russia's recent efforts to develop and deploy multi-purpose uncrewed vessels. These include explosive-laden ships for attacking targets, and naval drones equipped with weapons like machine guns or missiles. Kyiv also reports operating vessels capable of carrying short-range drones to approach the Russian coast.
