Ukraine releases video of unmanned boat approaching Russian reconnaissance ship

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense released a video of an unmanned boat approaching the reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs, possibly ramming the ship's stern.

"Russian reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs meets Ukrainian unmanned boat. A perfect match," Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on May 25 when releasing video apparently shot by a camera on an unmanned boat.

The video shows the unmanned boat approaching the stern of the Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship at high speed, but the signal is cut off when the vehicle is a few meters away from the Russian naval vessel. It is not clear whether the Ukrainian unmanned boat caused any damage to the Russian reconnaissance ship or was intercepted.

Ukraine releases video of unmanned boat approaching Russian reconnaissance ship — Ukrainian speedboat approaches Russian reconnaissance ship in video released on May 25. Video: *Ukrainian Ministry of Defense*

Previously, on May 24, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukraine used three unmanned boats to unsuccessfully attack the reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs, while the ship was patrolling to protect the two gas pipelines Turkstream and Blue Stream in the Black Sea.

The agency said the reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs "destroyed all enemy speedboats" 140 km northeast of the Bosphorus Strait, then continued its mission.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has recently recorded several attacks by unmanned boats and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on warships and naval bases in Sevastopol, Crimea. Russia claims the attacks were unsuccessful as the unmanned vehicles were destroyed or caught in nets.

Russia accuses Ukraine of using unmanned boats and UAVs to attack infrastructure on the Crimean peninsula, but Ukraine often denies involvement in this activity.

Vice Admiral Viktor Sokolov, commander of the Black Sea Fleet, confirmed on May 12 that his units have strengthened the multi-layered defense network at the Sevastopol military port to deal with the threat from suicide boats and unmanned submarines.

The Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship of Project 18280 class has a displacement of 4,000 tons, can move at a maximum speed of 37 km/h and operate continuously for 45 days. The ship has a crew of 120 people, is equipped with four 14.5 mm MTPU guns, 9K38 Igla and 9K333 Verba air defense missiles, and Orlan-10 UAVs.