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The writer is the former president of the Jamestown Foundation and author of ‘Black Sea Battleground’
At first glance, 37-year-old Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov may not seem to share much in common with Sir Francis Drake, the privateer and one of the most prominent figures in Britain’s historic tradition of maritime warfare. However, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence is quickly gaining a legendary status in western intelligence circles due to his relentless attacks on the Russian navy in the Black Sea.
Budanov, who began his military career in the special forces, is employing a modern form of privateering by using uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) to disrupt and attack Russian ships along the Crimean and Russian Black Sea coasts. This strategy, reminiscent of Sir Francis Drake’s raids along Spain’s Mediterranean coast, has been successful in significantly weakening Moscow’s maritime presence in the Black Sea, with Kyiv claiming over 30 Russian officers were killed in a recent missile strike on the Sevastopol headquarters.
Ukraine’s use of autonomous vessels like USVs is revolutionizing naval warfare. While surface drones have existed in major navies for over a decade, they had not been utilized in combat until Budanov and his colleagues recognized their potential. With 18 attacks on Russian ships since the invasion began, Ukraine has managed to undermine Russian dominance in the Black Sea. Kyiv’s success in employing aerial drones in land warfare has now been extended to the deployment of USVs, which will have implications for marine battles worldwide. According to Budanov, “Drones will definitely make the operations to liberate our territories easier. Drones have no fear. You don’t feel sorry for them.”
An expert at the Rand Corporation has likened Ukraine’s use of sea drones to the naval warfare innovation of fire ships. Like Sir Francis Drake’s victory against the Spanish Armada, which used fire ships to chase the Spanish navy into the English Channel for their destruction, Ukraine’s USV fleet has disrupted shipping and occupied Crimea, impacting Russian supply lines. Notably, a sea drone strike on the Kerch Strait bridge temporarily cut off the road and rail connection between Crimea and Russia, causing a major setback for Putin’s forces.
Although Russia’s navy still holds an advantage in the Black Sea, Ukraine’s use of USVs has forced Moscow to adjust its strategy and withdraw its naval force to Sevastopol to avoid attacks. This shift in the dynamic may enable Ukraine to resume its grain exports to the west. In modern times, Kyrylo Budanov displays the same audacity and tactical brilliance as Sir Francis Drake, making him a formidable commander in this conflict.
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