Russia is using trained dolphins and other marine mammals to bolster its defences at a Black Sea port, British intelligence suggests.
UK Defence Intelligence imagery has shown a large increase in floating mammal pens at Sevastopol Port in Crimea, which it believes are likely to contain bottle-nosed dolphins trained to identify and counter enemy divers.
Russia’s Black Sea fleet has its main base at the port, which is a likely target after Ukraine launched its long-awaited counter-offensive earlier this month.
A Ministry of Defence report says the Russian Navy has been investing in major security enhancements at the base since last summer, including at least four layers of nets and booms across the harbour entrance.
The report continues: “In recent weeks, these defences have highly likely also been augmented by an increased number of trained mammals.
“Imagery shows a near doubling of floating mammal pens in the hardbour which highly likely contain bottle-nosed dolphins. In Arctic waters, the navy also uses Beluga whales and seals.
“Russia has trained animals for a range of missions, but the ones housed in Sevastopol harbour are highly likely intended to counter enemy divers.”
A Beluga whale which has been spotted on numerous occasions in recent years off the Scandinavian coast and wearing a harness fitted with a GoPro camera is suspected of having been trained by the Russian army.
The Black Sea fleet has been the target of a number of drone attacks since Russia invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In April, Russian ships stationed in Sevastopol were attacked by “three unmanned high-speed boats” a few days before a fuel depot in the city was the subject of a drone attack.
Russia illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
