Attempted Development of Marine Drones by Russians Yields No Success
In a recent development, Kirill Budanov, the Director of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, has stated that Russia's attempts to develop operational maritime strike drones have been unsuccessful.
According to Budanov, experimental models of maritime strike drones failed to deliver results during a test in early June, with the drones detonating before reaching Ukrainian territorial waters. This statement was made in reference to an incident near the city of Yuzhne in early June 2025.
Despite Russia showcasing various unmanned surface vessels at exhibitions, including models like the “Orkan,” “BEK-1000,” and “Vizir,” none have demonstrated combat effectiveness or been confirmed in actual combat use. Conversely, Ukraine has successfully developed and fielded maritime drones, such as the Magura V5 and V7, which have been used effectively against Russian naval and aerial targets.
Budanov also noted that while Russia can launch massed aerial drone attacks — up to 450-500 drones in a single salvo — they are not capable of sustaining daily large-scale drone strikes.
In a significant move, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia is investing in unmanned technology, and the country is planning to increase the number of drones in attacks on Ukraine. However, the number of drones used by Russia in these attacks is not specified.
In a related development, it was reported that Russia has been working on adapting loitering munitions like the Lancet into new forms to improve strike capabilities, but these are not yet proven naval strike drones.
In summary, according to Ukraine's intelligence chief Kirill Budanov, Russia's maritime drone program has largely been unsuccessful operationally, contrasting sharply with Ukraine’s more effective use of maritime unmanned systems. The source of this information is a correspondent from "Suspilne."
Sports analysts in Ukraine have expressed surprise at Russia's inability to demonstrate combat effectiveness or proven usage of its maritime drones, considering their frequent showcasing of such systems at exhibitions, such as the Orkan, BEK-1000, and Vizir. Meanwhile, Ukraine has successfully fielded and utilized effective maritime drones like the Magura V5 and V7 against Russian naval and aerial targets, demonstrating their prowess in sports of warfare strategy and technology development.
