Ukraine Hits Russian Anti-Sabotage Boat in Dagestan as Drone Command Posts Burn Across Front

Ukrainian Armed Forces struck several high-value Russian military targets on May 17–18, including an anti-sabotage boat near Kaspiysk in Dagestan, UAV command posts across multiple regions, and logistics infrastructure in occupied territories, Ukraine’s General Staff reported on May 18.

One of the confirmed targets was a Project 21980 Grachonok anti-sabotage boat near Kaspiysk, a Russian naval base area on the Caspian Sea. Vessels of this type are used to protect naval facilities and ships from sabotage threats, including underwater and surface attacks.

The Grachonok is a roughly 30-meter patrol and anti-sabotage boat designed for base security missions. Russian forces have increasingly used these boats to defend against naval drones.

The vessel is typically armed with a 14.5mm machine gun, an anti-sabotage grenade launcher, and Igla or Verba portable air-defense missiles. It is also equipped with sonar, a remotely operated underwater vehicle, and diving support equipment, including a decompression chamber.

Ukraine also struck Russian UAV command posts near Rozdolne and Shevchenko in the Donetsk region, Dvorichne in the Kharkiv region, Kamianske in the Zaporizhzhia region, and Karnatne in Russia’s Bryansk region.

Separate strikes targeted Russian troop concentrations near Piddubne in the Donetsk region and Olhyne in the Kherson region.

The General Staff also clarified the results of earlier attacks carried out on May 17. Ukrainian forces confirmed strikes on a communications hub in Myrne in occupied Crimea, a Tor-M2 air defense system near Zakhidne in occupied Luhansk region, and a train carrying fuel and lubricants in Fedorivka in occupied Donetsk region.

Earlier, reports emerged that Russian forces have begun equipping their Project 21980 “Grachonok” anti-sabotage patrol boats with improvised anti-drone netting following a series of Ukrainian naval drone attacks near the Kerch Bridge in temporarily occupied Crimea.

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