Commander says Moskva's destruction marks end of large warship era

11.06.2025 20:59

Ukrinform

After the destruction of the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the cruiser Moskva, it became clear that the era of large ships was over. Ukraine, even without a full-fledged fleet, managed to rethink its approach to naval warfare—and now sets the tone on the world stage in the use of naval drones.

This was discussed in the latest edition of Ukrinform's project “Commanders of Our Victory” by Mykola Shcherbakov, commander of a State Border Guard Service maritime patrol vessel.

“The cruiser Moskva showed that a large ship in the Black Sea is a very easy target. Therefore, it is necessary to be small, fast, and maneuverable. I think that swarm tactics are what await us in the future,” the commander believes.

Shcherbakov is convinced that the future of the Ukrainian fleet lies in high automation, mobility, and modular platforms that can be reconfigured for specific tasks. “A fleet is always very expensive. But small platforms with modular weapons, missiles, and air defense systems are the way to success. And drone support is important,” the commander emphasizes.

He added that some of the tasks of the Maritime Guard could also be transferred to drones. For example, during reconnaissance or in high-risk areas: "Not all of our tasks require people on board. When it is necessary to record violations or communicate with fishermen, a drone cannot replace a person. But when it is necessary to reconnoiter something, to assess the situation, marine drones would be very useful."

According to Shcherbakov, Ukraine has already proven its ability to create unique developments in conditions of limited resources. Thanks to the creativity of engineers and the military, the state has shown the whole world its capabilities in maritime unmanned technologies. "We must pay tribute to our guys. Ukraine is now at the forefront of the use of unmanned systems at sea. There are already options for marine FPV drones, vessels with air defense systems, and even something similar to mini-aircraft carriers that can carry reconnaissance or strike systems," says Shcherbakov.

For more on maritime defense, working under fire, the strength of the team, and what Ukraine's navy will look like tomorrow, watch the full episode of the project “Commanders of Our Victory” on Ukrinform's new YouTube channel.

As reported, Ukrinform has launched a series of programs called “Commanders of Our Victory” about representatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' command structure. During the interviews, viewers will learn more about the commanders on whom not only the successful completion of combat missions but also the lives of soldiers depend. These are officers with combat experience gained in complex military operations; commanders whom soldiers look up to and who lead them to victory.