How desperate Russia is using pod of DOLPHINS to protect its rusting naval fleet after flagship was sunk by Ukraine

RUSSIA has used trained dolphins in a desperate bid to protect its naval fleet. Moscow has deployed two dolphin pods at its naval base at Sevastopol after the flagship Moskva was sunk by Ukraine earlier this month. Mikhail Semenov/The Siberian TimesRussia has trained dolphins for military purposes in the past[/caption] Moscow has deployed dolphins at the naval base According to satellite images analysed by the US Naval Institute (USNI), the two dolphin pods were moved to the Black Sea base in February at the start of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.  Dolphins could be deployed for counter-dive operations and to block Ukrainian forces from entering the harbour. Sevastopol is the Russian Navy’s most crucial naval base, where a large number of ships are anchored which means they are vulnerable to underwater attacks. Russia is known for training dolphins for military purposes in the past, using them to attack foreign ships with mines. READ MORE ON RUSSIA NEVER SURRENDER Defiant UK IGNORES sick nuke threats to 'double down' support for Ukraine PRISON BREAK Dramatic moment ex-US Marine swapped for Russian smuggler in prisoner exchange The highly-intelligent animals were even trained to swim up to enemy boats with mines strapped to them, blowing holes in the ships – and themselves. Both the US and Soviet Union trained military dolphins throughout the Cold War. The Soviet Union navy had a number of marine mammal programmes including dolphin training at Kazachya Bukhta near Sevastopol. Bottlenose dolphins were trained in the 1970s to carry out marine missions. Most read in The Sun BUMP IN THE ROAD A$AP Rocky secretly messaging Brit mum, 45, behind pregnant Rihanna's back 'SEX ABUSE SHOCK' Doctor Strange actress 'sexually abused girl, 13, alongside her husband' WINNING BID I found £130k cash in kitchen cabinets from eBay… but there’s a gutting twist POSTCODE LOTTERY All the areas where council tax rebates WON'T be paid in April revealed KATIE DRAMA Katie ‘in grave danger of going to jail’ if convicted of ‘gutter s**g text’ 'STRONG' Safiyya Vorajee fights tears as she discusses ex Ashley Cain and Azaylia’s death The mammals were capable of planting bombs on ships and attacking divers with guns strapped to their heads. The dolphin unit moved to Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union but barely stayed open. It returned to action when it went under Russian control following Moscow’s controversial annexation of the Crimea in 2014. A source told Russian news agency RIA Novosti at the time: “Our specialists developed new devices that convert dolphins’ underwater sonar detection of targets into a signal to the operator’s monitor. “The Ukrainian navy lacked funds for such know-how, and some projects had to be mothballed.” It was later revealed that a number of dolphins died as they refused to eat or follow orders provided by the Russians. Borys Babin, the Ukrainian government’s representative in Crimea, said the dolphins went on a hunger strike when they were seized by “Russian invaders”. Read More on The Sun SERVED UP Harry Styles’ girlfriend Olivia Wilde is served custody papers ON STAGE by ex MARTIAN MYSTERY? Nasa's Mars helicopter takes eerie pic that appears to show crashed UFO The US also trained dolphins, sea lions and even sharks during the Cold War. According to a 2016 report, military chiefs spent years trying to turn sharks into killing machines but to no avail. US NavyThe Soviet Union and the US have trained dolphins during the Cold War[/caption] Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears. Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund. Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded. Donate here to help The Sun’s fund Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles £3 — text SUN£3£5 — text SUN£5£10 — text SUN£10 Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis. In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world. For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund