Ukraine allegedly annihilated a Russian fighter aircraft utilizing a seaborne drone for the first time in recorded history.
Ukraine has made history by using seaborne drones to take out a Russian Su-30 fighter jet in the Black Sea, a first-of-its-kind achievement. According to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the fighter jet "burst into flames in the air and eventually fell into the sea" after being attacked by a Ukrainian Magura drone near the port of Novorossiysk.
Ukraine's military has been turning to drones to even the odds against Russia's vast resources. They've proven Effective against even the toughest ships of Moscow's Black Sea fleet, with some Ukrainian drones carrying up to 500lbs of explosives.
In December 2024, Ukraine used Magura drones to destroy two Russian Mi-8 helicopters, marking another historical "world-first" sea drone attack on airborne targets. Last February, Ukraine took out the Ivanovets, a Russian guided-missile ship, and scored a major morale boost with the sinking of the Moskva in April 2022.
The secretive sea drone unit behind the attacks confirmed to CNN that 10 Magura drones were used in the attack on the Ivanovets, six of which hit and ultimately sank the Russian warship.The drones are said to be quite difficult to spot in open sea, making it challenging for the Russians to target them.
Ukraine's recent operations against Russian assets in the Black Sea showcase their evolving asymmetric warfare tactics. Ukrainian drones have successfully taken down aircraft and naval targets, demonstrating the country's innovative use of technology in warfare. However, it's important to note that Russia has reported intercepting numerous drones but has acknowledged damage to infrastructure and civilian areas.
[1] https://www.defense-blog.com/2025/05/05/ukraine-claims-to-have-shot-down-russian-su-30-fighter-jet-using-sea-drone-for-first-time/
[2] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/07/ukraines-military-successfully-uses-sea-drone-to-destroy-russian-su-30-warplane.html
[3] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-using-drone-swarm-threaten-russian-missile-system-2025-05-06/
[4] https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2025/05/07/ukraine-claims-it-shot-down-russian-su-30-fighter-jet-using-seaborne-drone/
(This revised article incorporates insights gained from the enrichment data to clarify and enhance the article without overloading it with excessive details. The new version maintains clarity and an informal, approachable tone while preserving the original text's core content.)
- Despite the challenges in targeting them, Ukraine's secretive sea drone unit has been employing drones in their asymmetric warfare tactics, with success in taking down aircraft and naval targets, such as the recent attack on a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a Magura drone near the port of Novorossiysk. (Source: [1])
- The effectiveness of drones in Ukraine's military strategy was underscored again in December 2024, when Magura drones were used to destroy two Russian Mi-8 helicopters, marking another historical "world-first" sea drone attack on airborne targets. (Source: [2])
- In an effort to even the odds against Russia's vast resources, Ukraine has relied on drones with up to 500lbs of explosives, as demonstrated in the sinking of the Moskva in April 2022 and the attack on the Ivanovets, a Russian guided-missile ship, where 10 Magura drones were reportedly used. (Source: [3])
- Recent operations against Russian assets in the Black Sea illustrate Ukraine's innovative use of technology in warfare, but it's important to acknowledge Russia's reports of intercepting numerous drones and the resulting damage to infrastructure and civilian areas. (Source: [4])
