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Inside Rubikon: Elite Russian Drone Unit Trains Suicide Vessels for Future Naval Attacks
Russia’s newly formed Rubicon Center for Unmanned Systems is ramping up training and deployments of naval suicide drones, with footage emerging of strike drills targeting maritime infrastructure using surface and submersible drones.
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The unit, established in the summer of 2024, has reportedly received priority access to Russia’s most advanced loitering munitions, including a growing array of naval drones, according to a report by the Ukrainian defense outlet Defense Express on August 4.
Ukrainian military expert Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov noted that Russia’s Rubicon unit may soon pose a serious threat to Ukraine’s coastal and port infrastructure.
Russian Navy exercises "July Storm” showcase maritime drones.
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) July 26, 2025
The drone is equipped with a camera with a direct communication channel — this is confirmed by footage showing the drone's targeting and control up to the moment of detonation. pic.twitter.com/JJyDS0GmLi
“Rubicon is getting the best specialists and priority weapons,” he wrote. “Their unmanned boats could become a truly dangerous front.”
Surface drones with submersible capabilities spotted
Photos and videos circulating online appear to show Rubicon operators training to strike maritime targets with surface-based suicide drones and testing at least one model capable of diving beneath the surface, suggesting hybrid designs that could be harder to detect or intercept.
Beskrestnov also emphasized that Rubicon is actively developing air-based tools to detect and destroy Ukrainian naval drones, which indicates Moscow is simultaneously working on ways to shield its own systems from similar attacks.
“The main task is striking our maritime infrastructure,” he said. “We need to urgently develop detection and strike systems against these suicide boats. FPV drones can handle this job well—it’s just a matter of organizing them properly.”
Priority drone deliveries
Despite being a relatively new formation, the Rubicon center operates under the personal patronage of Russia’s Defense Minister and has already played a key role in disrupting Ukrainian logistics during fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, Beskrestnov added.
Sources suggest Rubicon now enjoys top-tier status in drone weapon allocation, fielding an extensive range that includes air-defense FPV drones.
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These systems are being deployed primarily along key frontline sectors where cutting off Ukrainian supply routes is critical. Rubicon drones have reportedly been used in strikes at ranges of up to 20–30 kilometers.
There is also concern that Russia may be attempting to replicate Ukrainian tactics that combine naval drones with FPV launches from the water.
Earlier, Russia launched its largest naval drills in recent years, conducting simultaneous operations in the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific, and the Baltic Sea, with additional activity reported in the Caspian.
