They protect base: Russia increases combat dolphins

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The port of Sevastopol is of enormous strategic importance to Russia: the Black Sea Fleet has its headquarters here. Therefore, it pays particular attention to preventing acts of sabotage by Ukrainians.

Russia apparently also uses combat dolphins that have been specially trained for this purpose. This is reported by the naval website “Navalnews”, based on satellite images. Last spring there were still three to four animals, now there are up to seven animals patrolling the harbour.

Dolphins are part of a defensive ring

They would take action against Ukrainian special divers who might try to enter the harbor basin. The advantage of the dolphins: nobody swims as fast as they do. Russia has now increased the number of dolphins or expanded the area where the existing animals are used.

Last October, Ukraine managed to attack a frigate and a minesweeper using underwater drones. According to “Navalnews,” the dolphins are part of a defensive ring.

USA also trains dolphins

An observation boat is stationed in the harbour, various underwater nets have been installed in the water and helicopters and speed boats also keep an eye on the area – defense missiles and radar surveillance also help. Russia placed the dolphins at the harbor entrance shortly after the February 2022 invasion.

The US has also been training dolphins for similar tasks for years. And already in the Soviet Union there were similar programs for the animals. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, these were handed over to the Ukrainian army. But with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the dolphins returned to the control of the Russian Navy.

The Russian Navy also trains animals in the Arctic. Even beluga whales are used there. A beluga whale wearing Russian armor was spotted off the coast of Norway in 2019 and recently in Sweden. (new)

Source: Blick