Ukraine Unveils Massive Underwater Drone TOLOKA To Target Russian Forces

Ukraine has unveiled its state-of-the-art underwater drone family, TOLOKA, at the Brave1 Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition in Lviv on September 19. The platform includes multiple drone variants designed for stealthy naval missions, ranging from compact reconnaissance to heavy strike operations.

The TLK-150, the smallest in the series, is designed to move just below the water’s surface using electric propulsion. Its compact size and quiet operation make it hard to detect, allowing surprise attacks in asymmetric warfare.

Ukraine also presented two larger models intended for long-range missions:

TLK-400: It is 4–6 meters long, can travel up to 1,200 kilometers, and carry a payload of 500 kilograms.

TLK-1000: The largest model, up to 12 meters long, with a 2,000 km range and a 5,000 kg payload.

Although the TOLOKA program has been known for about a year, this is the first public display of the drones. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on social media that its Armed Forces will soon get a new package including drones, unmanned boats, ground robots, and electronic warfare systems.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy first introduced the TOLOKA project at a summit in Kyiv on February 24, 2025, during an event marking three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion. He highlighted it as an example of homegrown defense technology designed to target ships, ports, and key infrastructure.

The unveiling in Lviv follows a series of Ukrainian maritime operations. In June, Ukraine’s Security Service carried out its third strike on the Crimean Bridge, a key supply route for Russian forces. While the attack method wasn’t officially confirmed, some experts believe an early version of TOLOKA may have damaged the bridge’s underwater supports.

Since 2022, Ukraine has increasingly used naval drones in combat, causing significant losses to Russian ships and assets in the Black Sea. The new TOLOKA drones, with extended strike ranges and large payload capacities, are expected to further strengthen Ukraine’s ability to target Russian logistics and infrastructure at sea.

The Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition also featured a trio of newly developed unmanned aircraft. According to Ukrainian defense media, these included a long-range cargo and strike drone, a low-cost reconnaissance UAV, and a “mothership” platform capable of carrying and deploying multiple FPV attack copters.

References: united24media, Kyiv Independent

Source: Maritime Shipping News