Russian “combat” dolphins were spotted in the occupied Crimea/Unsplash
At the beginning of Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, the aggressor country moved two detachments of fighting dolphins to the bay of occupied Sevastopol.
This is reported by The Guardian, citing a review by the US Naval Institute. It is noted that the corresponding conclusion was made on the basis of satellite images.
According to the British publication, the Sevastopol naval base is of decisive importance for Russia, since it is located on the southern edge of Crimea. It is noted that many ships that are in it are potentially vulnerable to underwater attacks.
Recall that after the occupation of the Crimean peninsula, in the spring of 2014, the naval base of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was moved to the Western Naval Base in city of Odessa.
It is known that in 2012 Ukraine resumed the training program for fighting dolphins capable of blowing up enemy ships. However, the animals fell into the hands of Russia after the occupation of Crimea. According to preliminary data, our state unsuccessfully demanded the return of dolphins, but the Russian media wrote that Moscow planned to expand the program.
What is known about the use of fighting dolphins by Russia:
- The Guardian writes , that during the Syrian war in 2019, Russia also used dolphins at its naval base in Tartus.
- It was previously reported that the Russian Navy purchased several more combat dolphins.
< li>In April 2019, local fishermen noticed a beluga off the northern coast of Norway. Later, the country's intelligence services reported that the animal was part of a “Russian research program”.
