Ukraine's Toloka drone can smash the Crimean Bridge and Russian ports, according to Forbes

About Toloka

The article notes that Ukraine has established itself as a leader in the use of combat drones, both small FPV drones and large bombers that have inflicted significant losses on Russian forces.

That is why the next step was to conquer the underwater. It is currently known that the TLK-1000 model is an addition to the line, which already includes the TLK-150 and TLK-400. These are compact “smart torpedoes” and autonomous devices.

According to the available specifications:

• TLK-150 - a “smart torpedo” with an electric drive and a warhead of up to ~15-50 kg, with a range of up to 60 miles;
• TLK-400 - an underwater drone about 40 feet long, with autonomy up to 2 months, a range of about 800 miles, and a payload capacity of up to 1,000 pounds;
• TLK-1000 - the flagship of the line with a payload of up to 5 tons, capable of operating at considerable depths and distances.

The manufacturers emphasize the use of artificial intelligence for navigation and autonomous decision-making, although the details of the tests and limitations of these systems are not publicly disclosed.

Crimean Bridge under threat

The Crimean Bridge and offshore platforms in the Black Sea are not only strategically important to Russia, but also symbolically important. Ukrainian attacks — from the explosion of a suicide truck in October 2022 to strikes by unmanned boats in 2023–2024 — have demonstrated the vulnerability of this infrastructure, although the supports have not yet been completely destroyed.

The use of underwater vehicles with powerful explosives complicates mine countermeasures and increases risks to shipping and bases. Sea mines and underwater explosions can effectively block access to ports, require significant resources for clearance, and can delay operations even without large-scale destruction.

Powerful Toloka drones can theoretically pave the way for new attacks, such as launching FPV squadrons or striking coastal targets.

Underwater robotic systems around the world

Large autonomous underwater systems are being developed by the US, the UK, Australia, China, France, Israel, and other countries. The Ukrainian approach is distinguished by its focus on cheaper, mass-produced, and disposable solutions, which makes them suitable for widespread use in conditions of limited resources.

The emergence of Toloka, as the article notes, takes underwater warfare to a new level — from reconnaissance and mine countermeasures to possible offensive strikes on key infrastructure. This forces the parties to strengthen both surface and underwater defense systems, turning the Black Sea into an even more dangerous theater of war.

Just a few days ago, Ukrainian underwater drone TOLOKA, which can go 2,000 kilometers was shown off at the Brave1 Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition in Lviv.