Russian Black Sea 'Coastguard Base' Damaged in Sea Drone Attack

Ukrainian forces attacked a Russian coast guard base in western Crimea overnight using aerial drones and waterborne uncrewed vehicles, in the latest of Kyiv's strikes on Moscow's military assets based on the annexed peninsula.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet was conducting exercises around Lake Donuzlav on Wednesday night when it came under attack by Ukrainian drones, a law enforcement source told Newsweek.

Lake Donuzlav lies northwest of the Crimean city of Yevpatoriya, on the western edge of the annexed peninsula. Moscow has controlled Crimea since 2014, and Kyiv has vowed to reclaim the peninsula.

The airborne and naval drones "damaged and disabled" the headquarters hosting the control center in the Russian coast guard base, an ammunition and equipment depot at the site, a power substation, technical facilities and Russian firing positions on the lake, the law enforcement source said.

Russia's Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the Black Sea Fleet had "destroyed" 10 unmanned boats in the Black Sea heading for Crimea, but did not elaborate further.

Russian air defense systems took out 33 airborne drones over Crimea overnight, Moscow said.

A local Telegram channel in Crimea reported disturbances in settlements around the lake overnight, including the village of Novoozerne and Myrnyi, on the southern edge of the lake.

Night-vision footage shared with Newsweek by the law enforcement source appears to show an unmanned surface vessel, or USV, in the water, with several explosions visible ahead of the drone. Numerous shots appear to target the USV, before the video feed becomes difficult to discern.

Newsweek could not independently verify the clip, and has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email.

The operation was jointly conducted by Ukraine's Security Service—often referred to as the SBU or SSU—and Kyiv's navy, the source said.

Ukraine does not have a large navy, but Kyiv has wielded innovative naval drones, alongside airborne drones and long-range missiles, to target high-value Russian assets on the peninsula throughout the full-scale war.

The SBU often uses its domestically-produced Sea Baby drones to carry out operations in Crimea, and the agency has also developed similar Mamai USVs. It is not clear which type of USV was used in the Lake Donuzlav operation.

The Sea Baby drones have been constantly upgraded, according to the SBU, including by fixing Soviet-era Grad multiple rocket launchers to the USVs.

Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency, which also targets Russian vessels and facilities on the peninsula, has its own variation of naval drone, dubbed the Magura V5.

Ukraine's naval drones have been credited with taking out several Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels, including the Sergei Kotov patrol ship in March this year.

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