Ukraine strengthens air defense over the sea corridor to protect merchant ships

The Ukrainian Navy has deployed additional UAV interceptor units to protect civilian shipping and the Ukrainian coast. Strengthening the defense should help ensure the stable operation of the sea export corridor amid Russian attacks on merchant vessels.

This was reported by the Commander of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksiy Neizhpapa.

Interceptor drones are becoming one of the components of the air defense of the sea route. The specific number of additional units, their deployment locations, and equipment characteristics are not disclosed for security reasons.

Russia tries to complicate the operation of the sea corridor

Russian troops regularly attack Ukrainian ports and civilian vessels with missiles and drones. The Navy has previously emphasized that Russia is no longer able to establish a classic naval blockade of Ukrainian ports, so it is trying to influence shipping through air strikes.

Such attacks create risks not only for crews and cargo but also for the economy of maritime transport itself: damage to vessels increases insurance risks and can raise the cost of cargo delivery.

Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk previously noted that the Ukrainian military uses all available means to destroy air targets over the sea. Among the main elements of protecting the sea route were named air defense systems, electronic warfare means, and interceptor drones.

Protection against drones over the sea is gradually expanding

In early July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a separate meeting with the Navy command regarding the security of the southern region. Among the issues discussed was the strengthening of air defense and counteraction to Russian drones.

The Ukrainian military also tries to destroy part of the air targets still over the Black Sea, before they approach the coast. The Navy has previously reported active use of interceptor drones specifically in the maritime direction.

Protection of shipping is of key importance for Ukrainian exports. Russian strikes on ports and merchant ships are aimed, in particular, at creating additional risks for the operation of the sea route, while Ukraine continues to build a multi-layered defense system for it.

Based on materials from: Commander of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Suspilne Odesa