Ukraine developing maritime drones capable of detaining and confiscating "shadow fleet" vessels - media reports
Ukraine is developing maritime drones capable of intercepting and seizing vessels from the so-called “shadow fleet.” Business Insider (BI) reported this, citing its own sources.
A representative of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, codenamed “Ninth,” said that work is underway on a new system for a maritime drone that his unit uses in operations in the Black Sea.
BI notes that Ukrainian maritime drones were primarily used to attack ships and vessels. They struck them at the waterline and exploded. The targets of such drones were typically russian military ships, although the Ukrainian military also struck tankers carrying “shadow fuel” subject to sanctions.
“Its purpose is not to destroy oil tankers or grain carriers transporting goods subject to sanctions. On the contrary, the task is to detain them and tow them to port,” “Ninth” reports on the new system.
According to the report, if the ship’s crew complies, they will be escorted to a designated port, where the vessel and its cargo may be confiscated in accordance with international law.
“If they refuse, other measures may be taken,” said the Defense Intelligence representative.
Such law enforcement missions will significantly expand the role of “Katran”—a multi-purpose maritime drone developed by the Ukrainian company Military Armored Company HUB and operated by a unit of “Ninth.”
Initially, “Katran” was conceived as a strike vehicle, loaded with explosives and directed at enemy ships to detonate upon impact. Ukraine used these drones to weaken the russian federation’s Black Sea Fleet.
As hostilities in the Black Sea intensified, the “Katran” was upgraded: machine guns and surface-to-air missiles were installed on it to combat aircraft. This allowed it, like other Ukrainian drones, to carry out more than just one-time attacks.
By the end of 2025, after several years of campaigning had driven the russian fleet out of occupied Crimea, Ukrainian maritime drones began to be used to strike the “shadow fleet.”
“Ninth” explained that using these drones on patrol missions would allow civilian crews and shipping companies to receive advance warnings that their movements might be monitored by unmanned aerial vehicles.
“If you encounter such a system, you will be detained. Proceed calmly to the designated port. Everyone will remain safe. The vessel and its cargo will be confiscated in accordance with international law,” the source told the publication.
He noted that this is a much more humane approach than simply destroying a vessel with an unknown cargo.
BI reports that this anticipated new role for maritime drones may emerge as Ukraine continues to try to replace human personnel with unmanned systems. For example, on the battlefield, ground robots are increasingly taking on dangerous logistical missions that were previously carried out by soldiers.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on June 5, a maritime drone exploded in the Romanian port of Constanța. There were no fatalities or injuries. It later emerged that the drone was Ukrainian.
Subsequently, Romanian authorities stated that Budapest wants Ukraine to program its maritime drones to self-destruct in the event of a loss of control.