Ukrainian intelligence destroys Russian Su-30 with Magura sea drone in first of its kind strike (video)
Illustrative photo: Ukraine's Defence Intelligence downed a Russian Su-30 using a Magura maritime drone (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukrainian intelligence operatives destroyed a Russian Su-30 aircraft using the Magura V5 naval drone near Novorossiysk on May 2. It is the first incident of its kind in the world, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
“On May 2, a special unit of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Defense Forces downed a Russian Su-30 in the Black Sea - the world's first destruction of a combat aircraft by a maritime drone,” the statement said.
The historic strike was carried out by the soldiers of the Group 13 special unit of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine with a missile from the Magura unmanned maritime platform.
Details of the downing
The Russian Su-30 multi-role fighter jet, whose estimated cost is about $50 million, burst into flames in midair and eventually crashed into the sea.
The successful strike on the enemy warplane took place in the waters near the port in the city of Novorossiysk, where the Russians are burying the remains of their Black Sea fleet.
Russian Telegram channels were the first to report the destruction of the Su-30. They said that the naval fighter was shot down on the evening of May 2, 50 km west of Novorossiysk.
On December 31, 2024, the Ukrainian military destroyed two Russian Mi-8 helicopters using a Magura V5 maritime drone. This strike was also the first of its kind.
