The sea surface drones that successfully attacked the Crimean Bridge, as well as the Russian amphibious assault ship Olenegorsky gornyak and the tanker SIG are the own technical development of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said Vasyl Malyuk, the head of SBU, in an exclusive comment to CNN.
"Sea surface drones are a unique invention of the Security Service of Ukraine. None of the private companies are involved. Using these drones we have conducted successful hits of the Crimean bridge in July 2023, the landing ship Olengorskiy gornyak and the SIG oil tanker," he noted.
Malyuk added that the SBU team assisted by civilian engineers and IT specialists, is working on development and production of these drones.
"Our drones are manufactured at an underground facility in Ukraine. We are working on a number of new interesting operations, including in the Black Sea waters. I promise you, it’ll be exciting, especially for our enemies," the head of the SBU emphasised.
Speaking in more detail on the special operations, he noted that the SBU was the author of the operational plans and their further successful implementation together with the Ukrainian Navy. ‘We take a balanced approach to every special operation at sea. We ‘measure twice and cut once’ – and then sting the enemy’s heart,’ the SBU Head remarks.
Vasyl Maliuk added that the maritime drones that damaged the Crimean bridge in July 2023 were named Sea Baby, on the personnel’s initiative. They are equipped with an 850kg warhead.Two other surface drones were used to hit the Olenegorskiy gornyak landing ship and the SIG tanker, each with a 450kg warhead. Vasyl Maliuk emphasised that all targets hit by the Service were completely legitimate under Ukrainian and international law. He also noted that Western partners are not involved in these special operations but are actively learning the SBU’s unique experience.
SBU conducted a special operation in Novorossiysk Bay. A surface drone damaged the large amphibious assault ship Olenegorsky gornyak - a large Russian amphibious assault ship built in Gdansk, Poland in 1976. It is part of the 121st amphibious brigade, based in the Northern Fleet. In 2007, it was considered the best landing ship of the Russian Federation’s Northern Fleet.