Ukraine launches first FPV drone strike from naval drone boats
Ukrainian naval drone operators during a mission (photo: illustrative photo/Getty Images)
Ukrainian marines have for the first time used FPV drones launched from Barracuda unmanned surface vessels to strike Russian positions near Zaliznyi Port in the Kherson region, according to Ukraine's 40th Separate Marine Brigade.
The military said that during the mission, Barracuda unmanned surface vessels (USVs) came under heavy enemy fire.
Russian forces used four Lancet loitering munitions to destroy one of the vessels, resulting in its loss. Despite this, the remaining vessels successfully reached the designated launch point for the strike drones.
Russian targets hit
After additional reconnaissance, FPV drones were launched and successfully struck Russian forces. In particular, near the temporarily occupied settlement of Zaliznyi Port, they hit:
-
Russian logistics and military equipment;
-
Concealed enemy positions;
-
Concentrations of Russian troops.
Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the Russians with FPV drones from unmanned boats
— MAKS 26 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) July 20, 2026
Marines first used FPV drones launched from Barracuda unmanned boats to attack the positions of the invaders in the area of Zalizny Port in the Kherson region.
To destroy one of the boats,… pic.twitter.com/LhT1xLWx0t
On July 14, the Ukrainian military first demonstrated the Barracuda in action, as it attacked Russian positions alongside other unmanned systems.
The Ukrainian Navy said that the coordinated use of several types of unmanned systems makes it possible to detect and strike enemy forces more effectively.
More recently, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence reported that Ukraine is developing a new system for naval drones that will be capable of both destroying Russian targets and detaining sanctioned vessels in the Black Sea before escorting them to port for confiscation.
The commander of a Defense Intelligence unit with the callsign Ninth said that the new concept is based on the upgraded Katran multipurpose naval drone.
