Journalists from The Times traveled to Ukraine to see Katran naval drones in action and meet the people who have already left their mark on modern military history.
In September, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence carried out a covert, multi-stage operation in the Black Sea. Using Magura and Katran drones, the military struck Russian gas platforms there. The operation remained classified for some time, but its details have now been revealed to The Times.
The occupiers used oil platforms to deploy their troops, powerful radar systems, and electronic warfare equipment. This allowed Russia to effectively control the Black Sea waters up to Ukraine’s southern coast and, for a time, it genuinely shielded Russian territory from potential attacks from the sea.
However, Ukrainian special forces stripped the enemy of this “trump card.” Surface and underwater drones, along with FPV and aircraft-type drones, took part in the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine’s operation, The Times reports. Such a complex, carefully planned mission shows that Ukraine is moving toward revolutionary high-tech solutions on the battlefield.
The operation began at night on September 21. The Katran X1 and X3 drones were launched first, carrying nine FPV drones and four aircraft-type drones on board. Each Katran was also equipped with additional weapons – underwater kamikaze drones suspended beneath the hull. These are the so-called long-range “smart torpedoes” with an 80-kilogram warhead. The scouts knew that the enemy had two aircraft on duty – a Su-27 and a Su-35 – so they first needed to divert the pilots’ attention. To do this, they launched a decoy target, while the armed Katrans made a 100-kilometer loop and approached the gas platforms from the opposite side.
The first guided unmanned underwater torpedo struck the platform’s support, and in the open space above, the soldiers who had abruptly awakened began to run out. Then the second torpedo hit. We neutralized the radar systems using fixed-wing drones,” says “Nine”, the commander of the Black Sea Legion, a special operations detachment within the FERRATA of Ukraine’s military intelligence.
After that, the Katran sea drones successfully returned to base, and the Magura strike drones rushed through the open corridor. They managed to attack the oil depot in Novorossiysk. That same day, other special forces units destroyed the Nebo-U radar station in temporarily occupied Crimea using aerial drones.
“We carried out a successful sabotage operation, which allowed other units to reach the ports of Crimea, Novorossiysk, and Tuapse,”said “Nine” of his September mission. He and his team are already planning their next.
The Times reporters were able to observe the development process of the Katran drones. It’s a close collaboration between professional military personnel and a technology startup. Work inside the headquarters is well-organized and streamlined: 3D printers produce new components, engineers test 360-degree camera mounts, and AI models are trained to visually identify targets.
During combat, operators use virtual-reality goggles to control drones and weapons from a specially designed pilot’s seat. It’s foldable and portable, allowing special forces to slip into any city, quickly eliminate the enemy, then pack up their gear and return to base.
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