Russia ups vigil in Black Sea, deploys 'spy dolphins' in Crimean peninsula: British intelligence report

A British intelligence report cited that Russia has stepped up security at the major port of Sevastopol Black Sea fleet base on the Crimean peninsular. One of the largest cities in the annexed Crimea, Sevastopol, is also the main base of the Black Sea fleet of the Russian Navy.

The report was prepared after taking into account satellite images that hinted at a "near doubling of floating mammal pens in the harbour".

Moscow has increased its vigil at its Sevastopol Black Sea fleet base by deploying trained dolphins meant to detect and "counter" enemy divers, the United Kingdom intelligence report stated.

Russia invaded and subsequently annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

The capture was seen as an outcome of the alleged power vacuum in the region and a flashpoint in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Recently, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu addressed a meeting of military officials saying the Kremlin gathered information suggesting that Ukraine was devising a plan to strike Crimea.

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The UK report said that the Russian navy has been investing in major enhancements to the Black Sea fleet's main base.

Now, the fleet could be a main target of Ukrainian counteroffensives, including naval drone raids.

The British intelligence also flagged that Russia's latest defence tactics near the fleet base include at least four layers of nets and booms across the harbour entrance.

"In recent weeks, these defences have highly likely also been augmented by an increased number of trained marine mammals," the report stated. "Russia has trained animals for a range of missions, but the ones housed in Sevastopol harbour are highly likely intended to counter enemy divers," it continued.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

This was not the first instance of Moscow having trained aquatic life for defence purposes. In 2019 in Norway, a beluga whale was spotted off the coast which was believed to have escaped one of Russia's training programmes. The whale, which was later called Hvaldimir, was spotted wearing a Russian harness. Reports suggest that Russia has previously deployed beluga whales to its Arctic bases.

Also, in 2015, Moscow deployed trained dolphins to Tartus in Syria. The programme for training mammals was formulated by the Soviet navy and the same was carried out in Sevastopol under the Ukrainian military after the disintegration of the USSR.

However, it fell into the hands of Russia after it invaded Crimea in 2014. Since then, the programme is said to have grown.

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