Overview

• Russia is painting decoy submarines and warships in the Black Sea to protect its fleet from Ukrainian naval drone attacks.
• Moscow has likely limited its Black Sea operations to the eastern region as losses mount and threat perceptions increase.
• Ukraine's successful naval drone strikes have forced Russia to adopt new protective measures, including the installation of additional fire weapons on its vessels.
• The UK's Ministry of Defense reports that Russia's dominance in the Black Sea is now challenged, with a significant portion of its fleet lost in recent months.
• Despite efforts to disguise and protect its assets, Russian vessels and aircraft remain vulnerable to conventional attacks in the Black Sea.