Kyiv, July 18, 2026
Ukrainian drone units have been attacking Russian ships in the Black Sea for weeks and claim to have hit 13 more vessels. According to commander Robert Browdi, Moscow is now withdrawing drone units of the so-called Rubikon troops from the front line in part in order to better protect shipping traffic.
Ukrainian drone commander Robert Browdi has stated that the weeks-long attacks on Russian ships in the Black Sea are prompting Moscow to pull parts of the so-called Rubikon drone troops back from the front line.
Ukrainian drone troops have been shelling Russian ships in the Black Sea for weeks. According to information from Kyiv, the drone attacks are now having consequences for Moscow's conduct at the front. Ukrainian drone commander Robert Browdi explained that the weeks-long "fleet hunt" for Russian ships is leading Moscow to partially withdraw and redeploy drone units of the so-called Rubikon troops from the front line in order to better protect shipping traffic.
Browdi announced that the operation against Russian ships would continue in the remaining days of July and in the first half of August. He also said that the heavily affected Crimean peninsula, which Russia had already annexed in 2014, would later be rebuilt. There was initially no statement from Moscow or independent confirmation of the alleged redeployment of Russian drone units.