Russia Cages Black Sea Fleet ‘Grachonok’ Patrol Boats After Repeated Ukrainian Drone Strikes

Russia has started fitting Project 21980 “Grachonok” anti-sabotage patrol boats with improvised anti-drone protection after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks near the Kerch Bridge in occupied Crimea.

Photos published on May 11 by Ukrainian volunteer and blogger Serhii Sternenko showed the boats fitted with metal-frame structures and netting covering parts of the vessels.

The added protection appeared aimed at defending the boats from Ukrainian aerial drones and uncrewed surface vessels operating in the Black Sea.

The “Grachonok”-class patrol boats are used by Russian forces to secure the waters around the Kerch Bridge, which connects occupied Crimea with mainland Russia and serves as a major logistics route.

The modifications were made after recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian patrol boats operating near the bridge.

According to the Ukrainian Navy, Ukrainian naval drones attacked two Russian vessels guarding the Kerch Bridge during a night operation on April 30 in occupied Crimea.

Ukrainian reports said the attack damaged a Project 21980 “Grachonok” anti-sabotage boat and a Project 12200 “Sobol” patrol boat.

Video released after the strike showed Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels moving towards Russian patrol boats at high speed before impact.

Ukrainian officials said the targeted vessels were responsible for protecting the maritime area around the bridge.

According to Ukrainian reports, nine Russian servicemen were killed in the strike on the “Grachonok” patrol boat, while two others were injured.

The reported number of casualties was higher than the vessel’s standard crew size, suggesting that additional personnel may have been onboard at the time.

Later reports linked the attack to Russian efforts to improve protection for patrol vessels operating around occupied Crimea and the Kerch Strait.

The newly added protective structures, often called “cope cages,” cover large sections of the upper part of the patrol boats. Similar anti-drone cages have already been widely used on military vehicles during the war in Ukraine.

The protection covers parts of the stern and superstructure, but the sides of the vessels remain mostly open. This likely allows the crew to continue normal operations such as docking, operating onboard weapons, and deploying the rigid-hull inflatable boat usually carried at the stern.

Per reports, the additional structures could limit the firing angles of some weapons carried by the boats.

The vessels normally carry a 14.5 mm machine gun and anti-sabotage grenade launchers mounted around the superstructure.

The protective cages appear designed mainly to reduce the threat from drone attacks coming from above. However, reports noted that highly manoeuvrable FPV drones could still potentially fly through gaps in the structures.

The added protection also does not directly stop attacks by uncrewed surface vessels or underwater drones, both of which Ukraine has repeatedly used against Russian targets in the Black Sea.

Project 21980 “Grachonok” boats are designed for anti-sabotage and harbour protection operations, including the defence of naval bases and important maritime infrastructure.

The vessels are equipped with hydroacoustic systems including “Kalmar” and “Anapa,” which are designed to detect underwater activity and combat divers.

Their standard weapons include a 14.5 mm naval machine gun mount, DP-65A and DP-64 anti-diver grenade launchers, and portable Igla and Verba air-defence missile systems.

The boats displace around 150 tonnes and measure slightly more than 100 feet in length. Russia has built around 30 Project 21980 vessels since 2008 for both the Russian Navy and the Border Service.

According to Ukrainian sources, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet operates nine “Grachonok”-class boats, while another four are assigned to the Border Service.

The waters around the Kerch Bridge have become a regular target for Ukrainian maritime operations aimed at disrupting Russian military logistics between occupied Crimea and mainland Russia.

Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine reported damaging several Russian naval assets during operations in occupied Crimea, including another Project 21980 “Grachonok” boat.

Ukrainian officials also reported strikes on Russian radar systems, fuel infrastructure, and communications equipment linked to the Black Sea Fleet.

References: twz, united24media