It will take more than just drones to defeat Russia's Black Sea Fleet, says Ukrainian naval commander

• Ukraine has managed to destroy parts of Russia's Black Sea Fleet using drones.
• But a top Ukrainian naval commander said the tactic won't cut it in 2024.

A Ukrainian naval commander said it will take more than just drones to defeat Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Oleksii Neizhpapa, Commander of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, made the statement in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda.

"Simply changing the fleet to drones and winning will not work," he said, according to a translation provided by the outlet.

Ukraine conducted a series of successful drone attacks on Russia's Black Sea Fleet in 2023, with its explosive sea drones sinking two Russian landing ships on November 10, "Sea Baby" drones damaging a Russian patrol ship near Sevastopol on October 11, and high-tech naval drones paralyzing the fleet on August 24.

The attacks forced Russia to relocate parts of its navy from the Crimean port city of Sevastopol to the port city of Novorossiysk in western Russia in October, the Institute for the Study of War said at the time, citing satellite imagery.

The attacks also caused Russia to lose a fifth of its fleet in just four months, the UK Defence Secretary said in late December.

However, Neizhpapa said that the technology behind Russia's drones is getting better.

"The enemy is also learning; they have a powerful industrial complex, and the Russians never scrimped money on weapons. Therefore, very difficult drone wars are ahead of us," he said.

As a result, Neizhpapa said, the type of attacks Ukraine launched at sea in 2022 and 2023 won't be as effective in 2024.

He also cited drones' size, armament, and weather resistance, which don't match those of ships.

"Yes, drones are another way to defeat the Russians. I agree with this; it works. But there is a certain limitation in the use of these means," Neizhpapa told Ukrainska Pravda.

"You can claim a territory as yours only when the boot of your soldier or a marine stands on it. Then this is your territory," he added. "The same is true at sea. When you have a ship standing in these territorial waters, and no one can do anything about it, only then it is your sea."