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Successful attacks by marine drones along with missile strikes on russian naval facilities in the Black Sea and near the temporarily occupied Crimea have helped Ukraine to dislodge enemy ships from Sevastopol Bay and create a safe sea corridor for merchant ships.

A warrior of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine with the call sign “Trynadtsiatyi” (“Thirteen”) told The New York Times about the importance of a new technological type of weapon ― naval strike drones.

He is in command of the fleet of attack surface drones of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

The destruction of russian “Akula” and “Serna” classes landing boats, successful attacks on the russian black sea fleet patrol ship “sergey kotov” and the aggressor state’s “ivan khurs” reconnaissance vessel are the work of Ukrainian military intelligence operators.

“When we hit the target, the whole team was, of course, overwhelmed with emotions. We were shouting and congratulating each other,” the intelligence officer described his emotions after the defeat of “sergey kotov”.

According to the warrior, the new weapon played a very important role in the war with the russians at sea and proved its effectiveness.

“No one has the experience of using marine drones like we do. There are no teachers or textbooks. We are now writing these books,” said “Thirteen”.

He explained that the russians are trying to prevent attacks of marine drones in various ways, so each new mission requires improvement of both tactics and weapons.

“With each new operation, both we and they [the russians] learn,” the intelligence officer noted.

The fact remains that in 2023, thanks to the use of marine strike drones, Ukraine was able to clear a sea strip of up to 200 miles from the coast from russians, creating a safe shipping corridor.

“They can be pushed back. russia's dominance in the Black Sea is over,” the warrior concluded.