Security Service of Ukraine Unveils Footage of Crimean Bridge Attack by SeaBaby Drone

25 November, 2023 SeaBaby unmanned surface vehicle. Photo credits: SSU The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) showed how SeaBaby drones damaged the Russian bridge across the Kerch Strait in July 2023.

Footage of operational use was shown in the documentary "SSU. Special Operation of Victory. Crimean Bridge to Hell."

That time, the Ukrainian drones also tried to attack the Russian Admiral Essen frigate. During the July 17 attack, the Security Service launched five SeaBaby naval drones, which traveled in two groups to Russia's illegally constructed Kerch Bridge. The operation was carried out in cooperation with the Ukrainian Navy.

The first group of two SeaBaby surface drones was moving in the lead, while the second group of three drones was following the two first drones.

SeaBaby naval drone. Photo credits: SSU

The SSU said that at some point the Russians raised to the skies their fighter jets, and then the Ukrainian headquarters decided that the SeaBaby unmanned surface vessels should change their course. Then there came information that the Russian frigate Admiral Essen was on its way.

The SSU's Head, Vasyl Maliuk, noted that the frigate was a high-priority target, and at some time, the team began to hesitate and consider assaulting the Essen.

An attempt to attack a Russian ship

The film says that the drones that went behind no longer had enough fuel to reach the Crimean Bridge. Therefore, it was decided to send them to attack the Russian frigate. The remaining two drones from the first group continued to move in the direction of the bridge.

"Yes, we licked in anticipation of Essen. But they bypassed him at a distance of 1.5 km. Because we had a clear task from the supreme commander.

In addition, on the ship itself, even then, they knew about the existence of naval drones and watched," added Malyuk.

Frigate Admiral Essen. Photo from open sources

However, it was not possible to catch up with the invaders' ship, since it went in the direction of Novorossiysk. Therefore, the SSU decided to "self-isolate" all three drones in the sea near Yalta, so that they did not fall into the hands of the enemy.

Hit of the Crimean bridge

Having reached the Kerch bridge, the first SeaBaby USV was supposed to attack the pillar of the railway part of the bridge, because it was a priority to hit. However, the unmanned vessel initially passed the pillar without hitting it.

Therefore, it was decided to turn around and attack the pillar of the road part of the illegally built bridge by the Russians. A powerful explosion led to significant damage to the site of the structure. Subsequently, the second Ukrainian SeaBaby surface drone approached the bridge across the Kerch Strait, which had already hit the pillar of the railway part of the bridge along which the Russian train was moving. The sea drones that damaged the Crimean bridge in July 2023 were named SeaBaby at the initiative of SSU officers. Those drones were equipped with a 850 kg warhead.

The SSU team is working on the further development and production of such drones, with assistance from civil engineers and programmers.