The Sevastopol naval base in the southwest of the Crimean peninsula is important for Russia in the war it has started against Ukraine. And this base is protected by two war dolphins. In any case, this is the observation reported by American analysts in Washington Post based on satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies.
According to analysts, dolphins are used to detect, for example, mines and enemy divers. A Maxar spokesperson confirms that the two dolphins have only been seen in the port city since the start of the Russian invasion.
The morning recalls that the Soviet Union had developed a training program for war dolphins in the 1960s. The Ukrainian Navy got hold of the dolphins after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but lost the animals after the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. Since then, Russia has reportedly started training dolphins again.
Much of the Russian fleet is currently docked in Sevastopol, as the Crimean port city is beyond Ukrainian missile range.