The thought of Ukrainian military trained "killer" dolphins roaming the Black Sea waters was enough to strike fear in anyone, but it turns out the Russian news report was just a hoax, according New-Sebasopol.
The hoax began when another Russian news agency, RIA Novosti, quoted a former Soviet naval anti-sabotage officer as saying that the killer dolphins had escaped, probably in pursuit of mates. The news agency, citing the Ukrainian media, said only two of five military-trained "killer" dolphins returned to their base in the port city of Sevastopol after recent exercises.
Although there are no "killer" dolphins lose in the Black Sea right now, there are dolphins being trained for Soviet navy commando missions at Sevastopol today. This practice dates as far back as 1973, but Ukraine took over the unit after the Soviet breakup and the splitting of the Black Sea fleet into the Ukrainian and Russian fleets.
These dolphins are trained to kill enemy divers with knives and pistols attached to their heads, according to RIA Novosti. Some could also be trained to place explosive devices on enemy ships.
Meanwhile, in other dolphin-related news, a dolphin has been spotted in the East River, NY - the most heavily trafficked, overly contaminated waterway on the Eastern seaboard - near 96th Street, according to ABC news. It's unclear yet how the dolphin got there, but NYPD harbor units have been called to the scene.
Below is a 45-minute History Channel documentary: Inside the Soviet Military Machine: Dolphin Soldiers: