Russia has reinforced defences of Sevastopol Bay, located in annexed Crimea and used as the base for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, particularly by deploying specially military trained marine mammals, the British intelligence reports in its latest update.
Satellite images prove that “at least four layers of nets and booms” were placed across the harbour entrance. Moreover, more floating mammal pens, where the mammals are claimed to be held in, have been placed nearby. In particular, the pens can contain bottle-nosed dolphins that are trained to counter enemy divers, the update says.
The Russian navy also uses attack Beluga whales and seals in the Arctic, the British intelligence adds.
In late May, reports emerged that a Russia-trained Beluga whale spy nicknamed Hvaldimir had been detected off Sweden’s southwest coast. The whale spent more than three years near the Norwegian coastline. Scientists cannot offer explanations why the mammal swam so far away from its natural habitat — Beluga whales normally reside closer to the Arctic Polar circle.
Hvaldimir was first noticed near Norway in 2019. The animal had a collar with camera mounts and “Petersburg equipment 2019” written on it. Scientists then removed the collar and watched the whale’s behaviour. Nevertheless, local authorities are certain that Hvaldimir is a Russian spy trained to keep an eye on ships. The whale itself is not scared of people and acts friendly towards them.
Naval News reported in late April that Russia boosted its Sevastopol defences with attack dolphins following drone attacks.
