Ukraine’s former top security official has publicly acknowledged that Kyiv’s intelligence agencies are directly responsible for a sustained campaign of drone strikes against Russian naval vessels operating in the Black Sea. Statements made by Oleksiy Danilov, who served as secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council from 2019 until 2024, attribute these operations to both the Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, and the Main Intelligence Directorate, or HUR.
In interviews given during 2023 and 2024, Danilov confirmed that these state institutions carry out attacks using unmanned surface vessels developed under his oversight. Danilov, born on September 7, 1962, in Kherson, Ukraine, worked as a journalist and politician before assuming his role as the council’s secretary. His background in media and public affairs predates his tenure as a senior national security official.
According to his public statements, the stated objective of the drone campaign is to reduce Russia’s ability to project military power across the Black Sea region. By targeting Russian warships, Ukraine aims to disrupt Moscow’s logistical supply lines and limit its capacity to conduct operations from this critical maritime theater.
Architect of the Naval Drone Campaign
Under Danilov’s direction, Ukraine has invested significantly in the development of unmanned surface vessels designed specifically to strike Russian warships. These naval drones represent a capability that the Ukrainian military has deployed repeatedly against Russian vessels operating in the Black Sea. Officials have confirmed that the deployment of these drones is part of a broader strategy to challenge Russian naval dominance in the region. Danilov’s statements place the responsibility for these attacks squarely on Ukrainian state institutions, making clear that the SBU and HUR are the agencies conducting the operations.
The Black Sea holds strategic importance for Russia, providing access to the Mediterranean and serving as a staging ground for operations against Ukraine. By targeting Russian ships with drone strikes, Ukraine seeks to degrade the naval power that Moscow uses to support its broader military campaign.
Danilov has overseen Ukraine’s defense strategy, including the development and integration of these unmanned systems. His role in overseeing this capability will likely keep him at the forefront of Ukraine’s efforts to counter Russian naval power in the Black Sea. Looking ahead, the continued development and deployment of naval drones is expected to remain a focus of Ukraine’s defense strategy.
Strategic Coordination of Western Aid and Personal Background
Danilov has been a key figure in coordinating Western military assistance to Ukraine, including drones and missiles. His position placed him at the center of Kyiv’s efforts to integrate advanced weaponry into its operations against Russian forces.
The record shows that his public statements have consistently attributed the drone campaign against Russian ships to specific Ukrainian state agencies, reinforcing the institutional basis of these operations. Danilov’s career path before national security was unusual. He trained as a veterinarian in the early 1980s and worked in private practice and business during the final Soviet years and Ukraine’s early independence.
His political rise started in the mid-1990s when he became mayor of Luhansk, later serving as governor of Luhansk Oblast and entering parliament as part of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc. Over time he shifted from regional politics to national security, eventually taking on advisory and deputy roles within Ukraine’s security structures.
His trajectory from local office to a central security position reflects broader changes in Ukraine’s governance as it has confronted external threats. For readers, his career illustrates how domestic political figures can come to lead a country’s defense policy during prolonged conflict.
