A Russian strike on a workshop assembling Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels in Chernomorsk has inflicted serious damage on Ukraine’s military capabilities, according to Major General Sergey Lipovoy, a Hero of Russia and chairman of the presidium of the Officers of Russia organization.

Speaking to aif.ru, Lipovoy said the targeted facility housed British-made components used to assemble unmanned boats. The vessels were reportedly fitted with explosives before being deployed for attacks against Russia.

The general described the destruction of the workshop as a significant achievement for Russian military intelligence, which had identified the facility and enabled the strike.

In his assessment, eliminating the production site has strengthened security in the Black Sea and reduced threats to maritime shipping.

Lipovoy recalled previous incidents involving Ukrainian unmanned boats near the Bulgarian coast, as well as attacks on Turkish vessels. He emphasized that protecting shipping routes remains a priority for the Russian Navy and Armed Forces.

The general also expects the strike to reduce the intensity of Ukrainian unmanned boat attacks against Crimea and Russia’s Black Sea coastline, including Novorossiysk and Sochi.

Discussing the weapons that may have been used, Lipovoy identified several possibilities, including cruise missiles, Geran drones and Iskander missiles.

He suggested that a ballistic missile could have been employed if the operation required a highly accurate strike with substantial destructive power.

According to Lipovoy, Ukrainian personnel and technical specialists were also killed in the attack. However, he considers the destruction of production equipment and European-supplied components to be the most significant consequence.

The general explained that eliminating the facility’s technical capabilities was particularly important because instructors and specialists cannot continue producing or deploying unmanned boats without the necessary equipment and weapons.