A unique operation took place on the night of May 2 near the Russian port of Novorossiysk. A Magura sea drone, operated by fighters of the Group 13 GUR special unit of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in cooperation with the SBU and the Defense Forces, eliminated a multi-role Su-30 fighter jet worth about $50 million. This is the first destruction of a combat aircraft by a sea drone in the world.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported the successful attack. According to the GUR, the strike took place in the Black Sea near Novorossiysk, where Russia is trying to hide the remains of its destroyed Black Sea Fleet.
"A Russian multi-role fighter with an estimated cost of about $50 million burst into flames in the air and fell into the sea. To the bottom of the ruthless "Neptune" possessions," the Ukrainian intelligence report says.
This strike marked a new milestone in the development of drone warfare at sea, where unmanned boats are increasingly demonstrating impressive effectiveness in combating the enemy.
Russian military sources have already acknowledged the loss of the Su-30, reporting that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have deployed more than 30 unmanned naval vehicles to the area. This could indicate a large-scale operation aimed at exhausting Russian forces in the strategic region.
The Su-30 is a 4+ generation multi-role fighter jet used for air dominance and strikes against ground and sea targets. The loss of such an aircraft is a serious blow not only financially but also symbolically for the Russian military.
