Ukraine Uses Sea Drone to Destroy Russian Su-30 Fighter Jet in Historic Black Sea Strike

KYIV, Ukraine – In a groundbreaking military operation, Ukraine claims to have shot down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a seaborne drone for the first time. The strike took place near the Russian port city of Novorossiysk, a key base for what remains of Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

First-Ever Fighter Jet Shot Down by a Sea Drone

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence announced the unprecedented event on Saturday, stating that a Ukrainian Magura V5 sea drone successfully targeted and destroyed the aircraft.

“This is the first time in the world that a combat aircraft has been destroyed by a marine drone,” said Ukraine's military intelligence, adding that the Su-30 fighter jet “burst into flames in the air and eventually fell into the sea.”

The jet was reportedly downed on Friday as it operated near Novorossiysk, a crucial logistics hub for the Russian Navy in the Black Sea.

Russia Silent, Military Blogger Confirms Incident

While the Russian Ministry of Defense has not officially responded, a prominent Russian military blogger known as Fighterbomber appeared to verify the Ukrainian account on Telegram.

“The Ukrainians brought more than three dozen sea-drones to the Novorossiysk area. After our jet was hit, the crew ended up in the water, surrounded by enemy sea-drones,” he wrote.

Ukraine’s Growing Use of Maritime Drone Warfare

This isn’t the first time Ukraine has used its domestically developed Magura V5 drone in naval warfare. In December 2023, Ukraine claimed to have destroyed two Russian helicopters using the same technology. These drones, engineered by Ukrainian military forces, have become a cornerstone of Ukraine’s drone warfare strategy.

With no functioning navy remaining in the Black Sea following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and its 2022 full-scale invasion, Ukraine has increasingly relied on unmanned maritime systems to counter Russia’s naval superiority.

Previous High-Profile Naval Drone Strikes

Ukraine’s use of sea drones has resulted in several notable victories:

• In February 2024, Ukraine sank the Ivanovets, a Russian guided-missile ship, using a swarm of Magura V5 drones.
• In April 2022, Ukraine famously destroyed the Moskva, Russia’s flagship in the Black Sea fleet, marking a major morale boost for Kyiv.

These drones, controlled remotely via Starlink satellite connections, are capable of long-range missions across the Black Sea and can be pre-programmed for strategic operations.

Strategic Impact of the Latest Strike

The destruction of a Russian Su-30 with a sea drone signals a significant evolution in modern naval warfare. It not only highlights Ukraine’s technological advancements but also demonstrates how unmanned systems can offset traditional military disadvantages. As Ukraine continues to innovate in the use of drone technology, the strategic landscape of the Black Sea conflict is being fundamentally reshaped.