Russian FSB Coast Guard Equips Patrol Ship With Nets to Defend Against Ukrainian Drones

Russian forces have equipped a Federal Security Service (FSB) Coast Guard Project 22460 “Okhotnik” patrol ship with anti-drone netting, Ukrainian military outlet Militarnyi reported, citing photos on a Russian milblogger channel.

According to the Russian sources, the protective netting was financed by civilian donations.

While the ship’s specific name was not disclosed, Militarnyi had identified the vessel’s class by a distinctive structural niche in the lower part of its superstructure, a signature feature of Project 22460 ships.

Militarnyi notes that the Russian FSB Coast Guard currently operates four ships of this class based in temporarily occupied Crimea—the Bezuprechnyy, Provornyy, Ametist, and Izumrud. Two additional vessels, the Rubin and Zhemchug, are stationed in the neighboring Krasnodar Krai.

Read more

Category

War in Ukraine

Losing Starlink Broke Down Russia’s Plans for Black Sea Drone Fleet Campaign. Here’s Why

May 10, 2026 15:51

This marks a continued effort by the Russian Navy to retrofit its fleet with physical defenses against drones. Earlier in May, open-source intelligence revealed that Project 21980 “Grachonok” anti-sabotage boats had been outfitted with similar anti-drone screens.

Developed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, the Project 22460 “Okhotnik” was designed as a multipurpose patrol ship for the FSB Coast Guard to monitor territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, Militarnyi wrote.

The ships feature a full displacement of approximately 700 tons, a length of 62 meters, and a top speed of 30 knots. Their standard armament is relatively light, consisting of a 30mm AK-630M automatic artillery system, heavy machine guns, and small arms.

Militarnyi reported that the vessels also incorporate radar-absorbent design elements, such as sloped superstructures, and include a landing pad capable of accommodating a Ka-226 light helicopter or surveillance drones, though they lack a full hangar for permanent aviation basing.

Russian efforts to reinforce their patrol fleet follow recent Ukrainian drone strikes against similar coastal vessels. Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces have recently struck a Russian Project 10410 patrol ship in the Caspian Sea port of Kaspiisk, located roughly 1,000 kilometers from Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Footage of the attack showed a strike drone hitting the vessel’s stern near its AK-630 automatic artillery mount, which appeared to be actively firing at the time. The successful strike spotlights the vulnerability of Russian border vessels to unmanned aerial systems, even when their standard air-defense cannons are engaged.

Protect Ukrainian Skies

Subscribe to Sky Defense