British intelligence has analyzed the statement by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on the creation of the Dnipro Flotilla and a boat brigade. The latter will be responsible for the protection of the Dnipro waterways and the islands separating the Russian-occupied territories in the Kherson region. This was reported by the UK Ministry of Defense, UNN reports .
The Dnipro flotilla is likely to be vulnerable to Ukrainian unmanned surface boats, which effectively destroy Russian vessels operating in the Black Sea,
Details
According to British analysts, with the help of this new formation, Russia is likely to seek to protect the Dnipro waterways and the islands that separate the occupation forces from the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kherson.
The intelligence community believes that there is a real possibility that the Dnipro Flotilla will be subordinated to the Dnipro Group of Forces, which merged the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro groups of forces in February 2024.
They also emphasize that Russia probably wants to prevent Ukrainian crossings of the river, such as the operation to create and maintain the Krynsk bridgehead.
In this regard, the British Ministry of Defense recalled that on March 17, 2024, Ukrainian forces reported that they had defeated the 810th Russian Guards Marine Brigade in Krynky.
It is likely that this formation will have separate river patrol functions, while the Black Sea Fleet will continue to operate in the eastern part of the Black Sea,
Recall
Russia plans to form two combined arms armies, 14 divisions and 16 brigades by the end of this year to increase the combat and numerical strength of its army. The occupation army has already received an additional army corps, a motorized rifle division, as well as the Dnipro River Flotilla and a brigade of river boats of the flotilla.