Russian sources have shown an image of one of the waterborne drones used in a coordinated attack on the Sevastopol naval base on the Crimean peninsula on July 16. Then the attack was repelled and the drone was shot to pieces. Judging from the pictures, it appears to be a modified jet ski.
Even during the attack on the Kerch Bridge, the bridge over to the Crimean Peninsula, the following day, things must have changed waterborne drones. Some assessors now believe that may be the same or similar type which was used.
Despite the fact that the images come from Russian sources, Johan Houvinen judges them to be credible.
– It does not give a positive image of Russia that Ukraine attacks Sevastopol with waterborne drones several times.
Reverse trend in weapons development
Earlier in the war, Ukraine has proven to be innovative, mainly when it comes to airborne drones. Among other things, as SVT Nyheter previously reported, a holder for grenades has been put on ordinary civilian drones and racing drones have been used as suicide bombs.
Now a similar development seems to be taking place on the marine side, according to Johan Houvinen. He describes it as a kind of reverse trend in weapons development.
– Traditionally, the military industry is usually at the forefront and then products that are used in civilian areas, such as the GPS system, are developed. Now we see the reverse, that civilian technology is used in military systems.
Great technical knowledge is required to use jet skis
If it is jet skis that were used in the attack on the bridge, it is something that required a great deal of technical know-how, says Houvinen.
– The fact that they are unmanned, can cover such a long distance and still arrive and hit the bridge with high precision in what is likely to be flowing water, it is very interesting from a military and technical perspective.