Naval News – On the night of July 6th and into the early hours of July 7th, Ukrainian drone forces conducted a massive raid into the Sea of Azov and the Northern Black Sea. This raid aimed at crippling Russia’s logistics supplying occupied Crimea in the increasingly contested waters, striking a total of 10 ships, including eight vital oil tankers, one bulk cargo vessel, and one ferry.

Covert Shores – When President Zelensky visited Odesa recently, the Ukrainian Navy (VMS-ZSU) presented him with a range of interesting and, in several cases previously unconfirmed, pieces of kit. These included Harpoon missiles in a disguised launcher, Norwegian NSM missiles and Swedish RBS-15 missiles. Those systems have understandably been getting a lot of attention. Yet sitting next to a couple of Seawolf surface drones (USVs) was something completely unreported. A new type of underwater drone (UUV – uncrewed underwater vehicle).

Naval News – A photo appearing to show a truck-based launcher for the Norwegian-built Naval Strike Missile (NSM) anti-ship cruise missile surfaced on social media following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the Command of the Naval Forces of Ukraine.

Defense News – Ukraine has turned its signature naval drone – the little boat that drove Russia’s fleet out of the western Black Sea – into a launch platform for first-person-view attack drones, putting Kyiv’s strike reach beyond the coast.

Covert Shores – The Sea Trident SL-1000 is an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) built by Ukrainian firm Global Mark. The company is already associated with a range of aerial drones (UAVs) and electromagnetic warfare (EW) systems, but this is its first publicly revealed underwater drone.

Navy Lookout – This week, Ukrainian one-way attack drones struck the Russian corvette RFS Boiky in Kronstadt naval base, more than 1,100 km from the Ukrainian border. The attack signals another extension of Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign and carries implications well beyond the conflict itself.

Naval News – Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) struck the Russian Steregushchy-class corvette RFS Boiky on the morning of June 3rd.

Covert Shores – Another new attack by Ukrainian USVs (uncrewed surface vessels) reveals yet another previously unreported type. On May 28th three Russian-linked tankers attacked by USVs in southern Black Sea near the entrance to the Bosporus. The Tanker James II (IMO: 9253909) was struck, the tanker Velora (IMO: 9290373) was also hit but the two USVs failed to explode, and the Altura (IMO: 9292199) damaged. Video of the attack on the Velora shows the new USV.

Covert Shores – A new type of Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel (USV) has been employed to strike Russian positions on the Kinburn Peninsula, north of Crimea. The USV is armed with 6 rockets, reportedly RPO-A Shmel thermobaric type (but possibly the Ukrainian RPV-16) and 6-8 FPV (first person view) drones.

Naval News – Greek fishermen discovered a suspected Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV) hidden inside a sea cave off Lefkada island. The vessel was recovered by the Hellenic Coast Guard amid reports it may have carried explosives. Authorities are investigating its origin and possible links to recent maritime attacks in the Mediterranean.

Breaking Defense – Ukraine has said that its elite drone force has destroyed a Russian Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle using an interceptor drone launched from an unmanned surface vessel (USV), marking the first downing of its kind in this new era of drone-on-drone warfare.

Naval News – Footage posted online by the Ukrainian Navy and circulated on X appears to show the launch of a Swedish built RBS 15 (Robotsystem 15) series anti-ship cruise missile from a truck mounted launcher targeting Russian installations.

Maritime Executive – A tanker carrying Russian oil has been hit by drones near the northern entrance to the Bosporus, according to Turkish officials.

Barents Observer – A high-profile Russian security service vessel, designed for Arctic operations, has been struck by a Ukrainian drone while docked at the Vyborg shipyard near St. Petersburg.

Defence Blog – A U.S.-made AEGIR-W unmanned surface vessel was found off the coast of Ordu, Turkey and is set to be inspected and destroyed by authorities. The vessel’s recovery highlights the spread of military unmanned maritime systems linked to the Ukraine war beyond their intended area of operation

(Thanks to Alain)

United 24 – Ukraine is working on a new generation of naval drones capable of operating in open ocean conditions, marking a potential expansion of its unmanned maritime capabilities beyond the Black Sea.

Maritime Executive – Ukraine has launched attacks on two railway ferries that Russia was using to supplement its rail line from the Russian mainland across the Kerch Strait Bridge to Crimea.

Naval News – Ukrainian forces have conducted a series of large-scale attacks on Russian Black Sea Fleet assets in recent weeks, striking targets in both occupied Crimea and the Novorossiysk naval base in successive operations.

United24Media – Ukrainian UADEFENSE company has unveiled a new multifunctional unmanned surface vessel, the M.A.K., designed for both river and maritime operations.

(Thanks to Alain)

Marine Link – Russia’s Black Sea port of Taman, which handles oil products, grain, coal and commodities, has been damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack, the governor of Russia’s Krasnodar region said on Sunday.

(Thanks to Alain)

RUSI – Kyiv’s unprecedented attack campaign on Russian shadow fleet tankers ups the pressure on sanctions-busting shippers and insurers at a time when Russian oil exports are already under strain.

Covert Shores – Ukraine has received the Fog surface drone (USV) from Latvian firm NEWT21. The small vessel is intended primarily for patrolling and surveillance, search and rescue missions, and has a offensive possibility. It is marketed for both sea and riverine use, and both offensive and defensive missions.

Lloyds List – A Russia-bound tanker was reportedly attacked on Wednesday while sailing off the Turkish coast in the Black Sea.

1945 – Russia’s Black Sea Fleet just absorbed another serious blow beneath the surface. A Project 636.3 Kilo-class submarine—believed to be B-271 Kolpino—was struck while tied up at Novorossiysk, the base Moscow relied on after Sevastopol became a recurring target.

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – In a significant escalation of the ‘tanker war’ between Russia and Ukraine, which has so far played out mainly in the Black Sea, Ukrainian aerial drones have struck a tanker belonging to Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’ in the Mediterranean.