On November 6, Ukraine’s army intelligence reportedly carried out a big drone assault towards Russia’s Caspian fleet, focusing on naval belongings stationed in Kaspiysk, a port metropolis in Russia’s Dagestan Republic. In accordance with sources inside Ukraine’s armed forces, the strike efficiently broken key Russian warships docked over 600 miles from the entrance strains.
“Army intelligence in Ukraine was behind a drone strike on Kaspiysk in Russia’s Dagestan republic, focusing on a Russian naval base,” a Ukrainian intelligence supply knowledgeable Kyiv Impartial. Early reviews point out that at the very least two missile corvettes, the Tatarstan and Dagestan, sustained harm within the assault, with different smaller vessels probably affected.
The incident gained extra visibility by means of OSINT [open-source intelligence] channels, together with a submit from the account OSINTtechnical on X [formerly Twitter]. “This morning, Ukrainian assault drones efficiently struck Russia’s Caspian Sea flotilla within the port of Kaspiysk, over 1000 km behind the frontline,” OSINTtechnical reported, sharing an eight-second video. “Seen right here, a Ukrainian drone flies low over the harbor and slams right into a row of docked Russian warships.”
The brief video presents a close-up view of the drone moments earlier than impression, approaching at a steep 45-degree angle towards the Russian ships. Within the background, gunfire could be heard, suggesting that Russian safety forces tried however didn’t intercept the incoming drone. The footage, possible captured by bystanders, stays a stark illustration of the effectiveness and attain of Ukrainian UAV capabilities.
Ukraine’s rationale for hanging to this point into Russian territory stays unconfirmed, however there’s hypothesis. The bottom in Kaspiysk reportedly housed Russia’s 177th Naval Infantry Regiment on the time of the assault. This regiment has been lively in Russian army efforts towards Ukraine, significantly within the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia areas over the previous 12 months. The assault could have aimed to weaken the regiment’s logistical and operational capabilities by damaging its supporting naval belongings at a distant, beforehand safe location.
Some Russian authorities declare to have intercepted and downed a Ukrainian drone throughout the incident. Nevertheless, OSINTtechnical’s footage signifies that at the very least one drone penetrated Russian defenses, and extra footage posted by Kyiv Impartial suggests the presence of a second, undeterred drone. Regardless of Russian interception efforts, the extent of seen harm means that Ukraine’s assault achieved a number of of its goals.
The Caspian fleet is essential to Russia’s technique towards Ukraine on account of its geographical positioning and relative safety in comparison with the Black Sea fleet, which is carefully monitored by NATO forces. Situated within the Caspian Sea, this fleet gives another platform for launching long-range cruise missile strikes with Kalibr missiles, permitting Russia to conduct assaults on Ukrainian infrastructure from a distance, past the attain of direct Ukrainian retaliation.
In contrast to the Black Sea fleet, which faces instant regional threats, the Caspian fleet operates in an remoted zone, including a layer of protection towards direct engagement or surveillance.
Stationing warships in Kaspiysk permits Russia to defend them from instant threats whereas positioning them as a strategic reserve, able to launching sudden, multidirectional assaults. This “second entrance” method permits Russia to deploy an prolonged, versatile attain into Ukraine, complicating Ukrainian protection methods by creating new, sudden sources of assaults.
The Caspian fleet additionally serves a psychological function in Russia’s broader army technique. By way of its deployment, Russia indicators a readiness to mobilize all obtainable assets, together with historically secondary belongings like these within the Caspian Sea.
This posture serves as each a sensible reinforcement of the continuing battle and a present of power on the worldwide stage, suggesting that Russia has an arsenal of “wild playing cards” that it might deploy as wanted. Coupled with the fleet’s distant positioning, this technique exerts extra geopolitical strain and broadens the scope of Russia’s army affect.
Central to the Caspian fleet are the missile corvettes Tatarstan and Dagestan, pivotal for his or her technological capabilities and firepower. The Tatarstan, flagship of the Caspian fleet, is a Gepard-class missile corvette designed to carry out numerous operations, together with anti-ship and anti-air missions.
At round 335 ft in size and with a displacement of 1,500 tons, it boasts superior navigation techniques and highly effective engines, reaching speeds of as much as 28 knots. The ship’s major armament contains Uran anti-ship missiles, able to hanging targets as much as 160 miles away, offering a sturdy long-range offensive capability.
The Dagestan, in the meantime, represents a big development as the primary Russian vessel to be geared up with the versatile Kalibr-NK missile system, with a variety extending as much as 1,200 miles for ground-target engagement. This functionality makes Dagestan a useful asset in regional conflicts, permitting Russian forces to use army strain from afar with out risking direct engagement. The Kalibr system drastically expands Dagestan’s strategic choices, enabling exact strikes on crucial infrastructure and high-value targets.
Each corvettes are outfitted with digital warfare techniques, state-of-the-art radar, and multi-target fireplace management techniques that improve their defensive and offensive flexibility. These techniques enable for the simultaneous monitoring and focusing on of a number of threats, a crucial benefit in advanced fight conditions. The ships’ long-endurance capabilities allow them to carry out autonomous missions throughout broad maritime zones, offering essential protection and assist to different Russian forces when needed.
Strategically deployed within the Caspian, Tatarstan, and Dagestan spotlight Russia’s dedication to sustaining a various and layered army technique. Their presence underscores the Caspian fleet’s function as each a robust deterrent and a reserve drive able to extending Russia’s attain.
The latest assault demonstrates that even these distant, well-defended belongings should not resistant to Ukraine’s evolving operational capabilities, signaling that Ukraine is more and more in a position to problem Russia throughout a broader vary of targets.
For Russia, the Caspian fleet serves as greater than only a army unit; it’s a projection of energy supposed to speak resilience and operational flexibility to the worldwide stage. In an setting the place regional tensions proceed to rise, Russia’s Caspian fleet emphasizes a technique that mixes tactical depth with strategic attain, reinforcing Russia’s affect whereas including complexity to Ukraine’s defensive panorama.
***
Observe us all over the place and at any time. BulgarianMilitary.com has responsive design and you may open the web page from any pc, cellular units or net browsers. For extra up-to-date information, observe our Google Information, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, Twitter and Fb pages. Our requirements: Manifesto & moral ideas.
