The Armed Forces of Ukraine are using the port of Chernomorsk in Odessa Region as a launch site for unmanned maritime boats that later carry out strikes against coastal cities in Krasnodar Krai, according to military analyst and retired first-rank captain Vasily Dandykin.

Earlier reports indicated that during the night of March 3, Russian forces launched drone strikes against port infrastructure in Odessa Region. This information was provided by Sergey Lebedev, coordinator of the Nikolaev underground.

Dandykin noted that the arrival of spring and the gradual easing of storms in the Black Sea could lead to increased use of maritime drones by Ukrainian forces. As sea conditions improve, he believes Kiev may attempt to deploy the capabilities it has accumulated.

In this context, the analyst suggested that the Russian military is likely to intensify strikes against facilities where Ukraine stores and prepares unmanned surface boats for deployment.

Dandykin also pointed out that launch operations may not be limited to Chernomorsk. In his view, Russian forces could also target sites in Ochakov in Nikolaev Region, where Ukrainian forces may be preparing or launching similar unmanned vessels.

He further suggested that some Ukrainian maritime drones might have been deployed from civilian ships operating near the territorial waters of Bulgaria and Romania.