Commercial satellite images, analyzed by Ukrainian military publication Defense Express on 3/9, reveal a series of facilities resembling unmanned surface vehicle (USV) bases near Donuzlav lake, close to the Novoozyornoye residential area on the Crimean peninsula.
Defense Express observed that these facilities share a design similar to those used for operating Geran kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). They feature structures resembling hangars, with shelters dug into the shoreline, covered by camouflage netting, and protected by earthen mounds.
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Structures suspected to be Russian USV bases on the Crimean peninsula in an image taken on 1/9. Photo: Defense Express |
These shelters are positioned near dirt roads or have private entrances for equipment and personnel transport. Operating units can store, prepare, and deploy USVs from these structures. Nearby supporting infrastructure may include storage facilities, maintenance workshops, and antennas.
Naval expert H.I. Sutton identified a total of 21 such structures along Donuzlav lake's shore. Construction started in February, and these facilities may already be operational. Sutton noted, "They are divided into two clusters: 8 facilities within the Donuzlav airbase and 13 structures located to the north at a former naval base".
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Two clusters of Russian USV bases on the Crimean peninsula. Photo: Covert Shores |
The presence of these USV operating facilities in Crimea suggests Russia will likely increase attacks on Black Sea vessels and port cities such as Odessa and Mykolaiv.
Defense Express warned that Russian USVs, while technologically inferior to Ukrainian counterparts in performance and operational capabilities, can still inflict serious damage. Destroying these USV bases is as challenging as neutralizing a Geran UAV site.
Lacking large naval vessels, the Ukrainian navy has invested in USVs to attack Russian warships and maritime targets. Ukraine is also the first country globally to establish a military branch dedicated to operating unmanned equipment.
After initially lagging, Russia accelerated its development and began using USVs to attack multiple targets. The first successful strike occurred in 8/2025, when a Russian high-speed USV hit the Ukrainian navy's reconnaissance ship Simferopol on the Danube river.
Nguyen Tien (According to Defense Express, Covert Shores, AP)
