How did Ukraine's sabotage groups destroy half of Russian navy? Drones vs ships

In February 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed two senior military commanders of the Russian Navy from their positions due to Ukrainian successes in the Black Sea. On February 14, the Russian media announced the removal of Admiral Viktor Sokolov, former commander of the Black Sea Fleet, after the large Russian amphibious landing ship, the Caesar Kunikov, was destroyed.

The Russian vessel was reportedly attacked in Miskhor, and the Russian side sent another ship, as well as Mi-8 and Ka-27 helicopters, to carry out rescue operations. The Russian Ministry of Defense hoped to cover up the loss, only announcing the interception of six Ukrainian drones over the area.

The removal of high-level Russian Navy commanders highlighted the effectiveness of sabotage operations carried out by the Ukrainian forces against the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. According to the Ukrainian media, around ten Russian heavy ships were toppled in the Black Sea since the end of 2023.

Moreover, Kyiv’s latest strike hit the Russian amphibious landing ship Kostiantyn Olshansky, which was resting in the dock in Sevastopol in Russia-occupied Crimea. The ship was part of the Ukrainian navy before Russia captured it while annexing the Black Sea peninsula in 2014.

In addition, Kyiv has previously announced that two other landing ships of the same type, Azov and Yamal, were also damaged in Saturday's (March 30) strike along with the Ivan Khurs intelligence ship. Indeed, Ukraine’s main priority is the complete absence of military vessels of the so-called Russian Federation in the Azov and Black Sea regions.

Molfar, an open-source intelligence agency, in the analysis of Russia's fleet losses between February 24, 2022, and February 15, 2024, reported that a wide range of Putin's naval forces have been targeted in the war, with losses including both small and large ships performing various functions, from amphibious operations to patrolling.

Interestingly, Ukraine, which does not possess a fledge navy to counter the Russian navy, managed to effectively use kamikaze drones, Western-made cruise missiles, and indigenously-made Neptun missiles to inflict grave damage on the Russian navy at a time when its troops advanced toward Western Ukraine.

In losing - to Ukrainian rockets, cruise missiles, and drone boats - warships together displacing around 17,000 tons, the Russian navy nearly has erased the 18,000 tons of new warships it built last year.

The Project 22160s are unique to the Black Sea Fleet. The Russian navy is producing a total of six of the 80-person vessels. For months, the Ukrainian navy has been trying to sink the four Project 22160s that are already in service.

Amid these mounting losses, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stepped in to announce a new set of protective measures for his naval assets. Hence, in early March, the Russian Defense Chief Shoigu visited the occupied Crimea and ordered the installation of large-calibre machine gun small arms systems, although it was not immediately clear where these would be placed or what specific types would be used.

Despite the significant losses, the Russian Navy has shown resilience in the face of adversity. The collapse of the Russian shipbuilding sector with the end of the Soviet Union has posed challenges, exacerbated by the reliance on maritime engines imported from Ukraine—engines Ukraine no longer is willing to sell to Russia for obvious reasons.

Around 30% of Russia’s Black Sea fleet has been disabled as of early February 2024, according to the Ukrainian military, who said that there had been 74 warships in the fleet right before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's relentless pursuit to secure the Black Sea basin is evident in its systematic dismantling of the Black Sea Fleet. This display of determination has shattered Moscow's claims of invincibility, demoralizing the enemy and exposing their weakness.

Here's a chronological list of the most important ships taken out so far. Kyiv will likely proceed with the same tactics until making sure that the Black Sea basin is safe and secured of the Russian navy.