Why are the Boiko drilling rigs of military importance?
Because Russia also used the oil rig to monitor the Black Sea. “Russia equipped the platforms with sensors at the start of the attack last year,” continued Thiele. This would allow “movement data on the Black Sea as well as other radar and communications data to be collected.”
The Kremlin can “get a precise picture of who is traveling where on the Black Sea and then plan appropriate actions,” explains the retired colonel. “This is extremely important for Russia, because data is the new oil in terms of its importance for the military, but also for the economy,” says Thiele.
And indeed: According to Ukrainian information, both helicopter ammunition and a Neva radar device were captured during the operation. The latter could be used to track the movements of ships in the Black Sea, wrote the GUR in a message on Telegram. The intelligence service described the loot as “valuable trophies.”
Although Russia can no longer rely on the data collected with the radar on the Boiko drilling rigs, it will probably be able to “compensate for this fact using drones, satellites and the presence of its navy on the Black Sea,” Thiele says immediate successes of the Ukrainian operation.
What does the recapture of the drilling rigs mean for the Ukrainian counteroffensive?
This cannot yet be conclusively assessed. One thing is certain, says Thiele: The recapture of the Boiko drilling rigs, but above all the capture of the Russian sensors on the platforms, could bring an advantage that may also have an influence on the offensive: “Ukraine could benefit from the sensors that are on the Platforms have now captured important data for their counteroffensive in the south of the country,” explains Thiele. This sensory system could be an “important mosaic element”.
What are the consequences for Ukraine?
In addition to the military and economic significance of Ukraine’s success on the Black Sea, a psychological component also plays a role. Because the defenders have now shown one thing, says military expert Thiele: “Not only Russia can attack Ukrainian infrastructure, but we can attack theirs too.” Overall, the recapture of the Boiko drilling rigs was “a rather small success that is now being inflated as part of the information war. But it is a success,” said Thiele.
Similar to drone attacks on Russian territory, the special operation on the Black Sea is part of the Ukrainian tactic of “a thousand pinpricks,” explains the chairman of the Political-Military Society.
Now the question is how well Ukraine can protect the recaptured offshore facilities, says Thiele. A quick counterattack by Russia is conceivable. “The Ukrainian attacks on the Crimean bridges show that you can never protect such infrastructure 100 percent. Russia could also sink the platforms with an attack in the future.”
