Ukraine is increasingly using interceptors to destroy Russian drones, and its best pilots are often young videogame aces.

Both vessels are on a list of ships subject to sanctions imposed against Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The vessel, LÉ William Butler Yeats, did not shoot down the drones but also lacked any capability to disable them, and a nearby Irish Air Corps aircraft also did not get involved. Deck lookouts spotted the drones because their lights were on as they flew.

Russia's turbojet Geran-3s are much faster than the usual Shaheds, but Ukrainians that their cheap interceptors took several down for the first time.

Ukraine has used Sea Baby naval drones to strike two Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea. An official from Ukraine’s security services told The Associated Press about the attack on Saturday.

U.S. political leaders could help Ukrainian and U.S. companies to work together. In July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Donald Trump appeared prepared to do just that, proposing a deal for the United States to buy Ukrainian drones as part of broader conflict negotiations.

As winter looms and Russian forces adapt their tactics, Ukrainian troops need to double down on technological innovation and flood the front line with more drones to halt Moscow's territorial gains, a senior commander said.