Application of Technology and Innovation to Urban Conflict and Casualty Prevention in Ukraine

Two years following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war on land has reached a stalemate, with time and material resources on Russia’s side. However, there is one area where the Ukrainians have claimed significant victories: the Black Sea littorals. From forcing Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to relocate from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk to securing a shipping corridor for grain exports, the Ukrainians have made key strides in the maritime domain. A great deal of their success in naval engagements is attributed to their use of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) against Russian capital ships. This relatively new technology is being developed and improved in real-time, largely on Ukrainian soil. 

This report illustrated the role of USVs in securing Ukrainian naval victories, and highlighted the importance of the Black Sea region in the context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The team suggested a taxonomy for emerging maritime drone technology. By analyzing the strategy behind Ukraine’s success in the Black Sea, the Capstone team identified innovations made by Ukrainians, and how their success can be replicated for the United States, allies and their partners. The team identified in which areas USVs could be deployed, and made a case for how best to use and defend against them. The report also addressed the impact of USVs for broader naval strategy as disruptive force multipliers that threaten the dominance of capital ships, particularly in littoral regions.