Russian military aircraft annihilated in two separate incidents within a day's span, according to Zelensky's statement.
Rewritten Article:
Editor's note: This is a current event and is being continuously updated.
Ukraine's military claimed a historic victory on May 3, announcing the destruction of a second Russian military aircraft within a 24-hour timeframe. The latest incident involved a military airfield in occupied Crimea, as per President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The sequence of events began earlier in the day with the reported downing of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet by a sea drone, according to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR). This attack is said to be a groundbreaking incident, marking the "world's first destruction of a combat aircraft by a naval drone," as HUR claimed.
The high-value multi-role Su-30 fighter, estimated at around $50 million, apparently sustained damage in mid-air and plunged into the sea.
Zelensky commended his troops during an evening address, stating, "I salute our lads who are supercharging Ukrainian long-range capabilities—both in the air and at sea. The downing of a Russian military aircraft by our naval drone was a stroke of genius, evidence of Ukrainian might."
Details regarding the newly destroyed aircraft were scant from Zelensky, who only mentioned the addition of military depots to the debris field. Ukraine's military has yet to disclose specifics about the attack.
On May 3, Ukraine unleashed a swarm of drones towards occupied Crimea, as per Russia's Air Force. The latter asserted it thwarted 89 drones over the region and another 23 drones over the Black Sea.
Kyiv regularly targets occupied Crimea, a region seized by Russia in the throes of the EuroMaidan revolution of 2014.
With this win, Ukraine has made a remarkable stride in naval drone warfare. Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:
- Event: The engagement took pace on May 3, 2025, in the vicinity of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea.
- Aircraft: The target was a Russian Su-30 Flanker, a multi-role fighter valued at around $50 million.
- Weapon: The assault occurred via an R-73 air-to-air missile fired from a Magura V5 maritime drone.
- Drone: The Magura V5 USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) was equipped with "Sea Dragon" missiles, as per naval analysts.
This development showcases Ukraine's burgeoning drone warfare capabilities, particularly in asymmetric confrontations against Russia's Black Sea Fleet and associated air assets.
- Reportedly, President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked his troops for the destruction of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet by a Ukrainian naval drone, marking a significant event in war-and-conflicts.
- In the general news, the incident of the military airfield crash in occupied Crimea, as per President Zelensky, is being closely watched within politics and crime-and-justice sectors, given its implications for the ongoing conflict.
- As per a report, the historical victory on May 3 involved the use of a Magura V5 USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) equipped with "Sea Dragon" missiles, highlighting Ukraine's growing capabilities in crime-and-justice and war-and-conflicts.
- In the midst of ongoing war-and-conflicts, the reported crash of a high-value Russian military aircraft, allegedly due to a Ukrainian naval drone, raises questions about the future of politics and military relations in the region.
