A Russian naval base is defended by dolphins. It's not as unusual as it sounds
Russia's military is using specially trained dolphins to defend a critical naval base off Crimea, according to an analysis published by U.S. Naval Institute News.
Submarine analyst H I Sutton wrote for the online news and analysis outlet — which is editorially independent from the nonprofit USNI — this week that satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies shows two dolphin pens at the entrance to Sevastopol's harbor, the Russian navy's "most significant" naval base in the Black Sea. He said the pens were moved there in February, around the time that Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Maxar News Bureau confirmed to NPR that it agrees with that analysis. The firm also provided new satellite images, taken on Friday and showing a closer view of dolphin pens in the water at the entrance to the bay.
