Ukraine develops clever new tech – and Russia responds with a 200-year-old strategy
By Olive Enokido-Lineham, OSINT producer
Russia has reportedly sunk a number of vessels by Kerch Bridge, the only direct link between Russia and the Crimean peninsula, in what experts say could be a “defence response” to sea drone attacks on the bridge.
Satellite images gathered by Sky News show six dark objects in a row appearing over a seven-day period. They are similar distances apart.
It follows claims made by Ukraine’s intelligence ministry (GUR) last Tuesday, that Russia planned to sink “at least six watercraft” by the bridge to create a “protective lane” in front of it.
In a Telegram post, it also said Russia “intended to install barriers between the sunk ferries” to protect the bridge “from damage”.
This time-lapse illustrates sunk vessels
In satellite imagery taken on 19 August, no objects can be seen in the water south of the bridge, but on 21 August two vessels appear.
Two days later on 23 August another vessel can be seen on the surface of the water.
However, by 26 August, six objects in the exact same positions around 30 metres in length appear in a darker colour – which experts suggest could mean they have been sunk and are below the water.
Kerch Bridge has been subject to several attacks during the war and, in July, Ukraine’s domestic intelligence agency (SBU) claimed responsibility for the first time for a sabotage operation that badly damaged the bridge on 8 October last year.
The SBU also said it carried out an attack on the bridge on 17 July this year using an unmanned sea drone.
Security and defence analyst Michael Clarke says the use of “block ships” – which are vessels sunk in a strategic place to form a physical barrier – is a “very common” defence strategy, but noted it is the first time we’ve seen Russia use it since its invasion of Ukraine last February.
“This is a large area so you’d need to have a series of ships, then some sort of barrier in between it, it could be chains or steel nets, to stop anything getting through.”
He said it’s “probably the best way for Russia to prevent sea drone attacks”, but added: “The Ukrainians have developed a clever new technology and Russia is responding with a 200-year-old strategy of sinking ships in front of it, it’s an old response to a new threat.”
