Zelensky Outlines Plans for Maritime Drone Defense Line to Protect Odesa

Ukraine aims to establish a specialized maritime defense line utilizing interceptor drones deployed from naval platforms to protect the southern port city of Odesa from ongoing Russian air strikes, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday, July 4.

Speaking in Odesa during a meeting with graduates and cadets of the Institute of the Naval Forces, Zelensky stated that domestic defense industries are already manufacturing hundreds of thousands of interceptor drones. However, he emphasized that securing the maritime domain requires innovative deployment strategies.

“The know-how we need is to have a line of defense at sea and to deploy interceptor drones there from various platforms, so that we have a line that protects Odesa in the air,” Zelensky said. “Launching interceptors from naval drones presents new technical challenges.”

The president noted that the realities of the full-scale war have shifted tactical focus away from traditional large warships. He highlighted that Ukraine has successfully built a unique fleet of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).

According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian military now possesses the operational capability to deploy between 100 and 200 naval drones during a single operation, noting that these systems have even been utilized to target enemy helicopters.

During his operational trip to the Odesa region, Zelensky also held a briefing with the command of the Ukrainian Navy to discuss maritime security, focusing on countermeasures against ongoing Russian missile and Iranian-designed Shahed loitering munition strikes.

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Ukraine’s expanding unmanned maritime capabilities

The push for a maritime interceptor line follows the recent unveiling of Ukraine’s latest naval technology, the “Sea Trident” long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Developed by the Ukrainian company Global Mark, the strategic underwater drone was presented at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris.

The Sea Trident expands the operational reach of Ukraine’s uncrewed fleet, featuring a low-observable design intended for autonomous missions in highly contested waters.

Technical Specifications of the Sea Trident:

• Length: 10 meters (33 feet)

• Payload Capacity: Up to 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds)

• Maximum Operational Range: 3,218 kilometers (2,000 miles)

• Top Speed: 10 knots (11.5 mph)

• Maximum Diving Depth: Up to 60 meters (197 feet)

According to the manufacturer, the submersible is built with adaptive navigation and autonomous control systems, minimizing the need for constant operator input. Its design allows it to be used for strike missions, logistics, cargo delivery, and the neutralization of hostile underwater vehicles.

The introduction of the Sea Trident follows the successful deployment of several generations of Ukrainian surface drones. These include the Magura V5, which carries a 320-kilogram warhead up to 800 kilometers and has been repeatedly used to damage Russian Black Sea Fleet assets, and the larger Sea Baby drone, utilized for heavy explosive strikes against coastal and maritime infrastructure.