The Russian army also relies on animal soldiers in its invasion war against Ukraine – now it even wants to double the number of members of its dolphin troop. It must repel attacks by Ukrainian combat divers on the port city of Sevastopol on the Crimea peninsula, which has been occupied since 2014.
The port of Sevastopol is said to be the main port of Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet. To protect it, the Russian military has been using trained dolphins to guard the harbor entrance for the past year, according to the news site “Naval News”. Beluga whales must also be used in the troop of animals – but unlike dolphins, these must be flown in as they are not native to the Black Sea.
Dolphins can perform various military tasks
What sounds like it sprang from the imagination of a Hollywood movie is actually quite brilliant. Dolphins are highly intelligent animals that can swim much better than human divers and can also use sonar to detect objects in the water. Other countries therefore train the marine mammals for various purposes, such as clearing sea mines or transporting explosives to enemy ships or unmasking enemy combat divers. The US, Israel, North Korea and Sweden are also said to have trained dolphins for military purposes.
Ukraine once trained dolphins itself in Sevastopol during the Soviet era, but the program was discontinued in the 1990s. In 2012 it was finally revived by the Kiev navy, with the occupation of Crimea by the Russians, the dolphins finally fell into Russian hands. To protect the port of Sevastopol, Russia is now going to double the number of trained marine mammals from three to four to six to seven.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
