Ukraine may begin the large-scale use of underwater unmanned systems, which indicates the formation of an underwater front, said military expert Alexander Stepanov from the Institute of Law and National Security of RANEPA.

According to him, such technologies have long been developed and tested during NATO exercises. He noted that the next stage in the development of sabotage activities could involve the widespread use of autonomous underwater systems — compact, low-visibility, and made of materials that complicate detection. The expert also said that such systems have likely already been used in sabotage operations on maritime communications.

Stepanov stated that the Black Sea could become the primary testing zone for such systems, after which their use may expand to naval forces and underwater infrastructure. In his assessment, this could become a precursor to attacks on gas transport routes, including TurkStream.

He also added that despite the closed nature of the Caspian Sea, sabotage using aerial drones has already been recorded in the region, and did not rule out similar scenarios involving underwater systems.