Ukrainian Magura sea drones sink NATO frigate during drills
Photo: Magura drone (Getty Images)
A team led by Ukraine sank a NATO frigate using naval drones during the Alliance’s multinational naval exercises REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 2025, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
During the exercises, which took place in Portugal, the "red" team, made up of units from the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and other countries under Ukraine’s leadership, faced the "blue" team, which consisted of NATO forces.
The outlet writes that the exercise scenarios involved the protection of ports and maritime convoys. In all of them, the "red" team led by Ukraine defeated the NATO forces.
Hit on a NATO frigate
According to the rules, victory was awarded to the team that managed to successfully attack the enemy’s ships. Ukrainian Magura V7 unmanned surface vessels were also used during the exercises.
During a simulated attack, the "red" team carried out so many strikes on a NATO frigate that in a real battle it would have sunk. It is noted that Alliance forces were not even able to detect the weapons used to launch the strikes.
Ukraine also demonstrated several versions of the Magura V7 naval drone. One of them was equipped with reconnaissance equipment and an explosive charge, while another carried a machine gun.
The outlet emphasizes that the results of the drills demonstrated the effectiveness of drones and their ability to pose a serious threat to naval forces when combined with combat experience and well-thought-out planning.
Ukrainian troops also defeated NATO forces during the Hedgehog exercises in Estonia. According to Ukrainian soldiers, the results of the drills were unexpected for Western partners.
The media described the results of the exercise as "devastating" for NATO forces. A Ukrainian team of 10 soldiers, acting as the opposing force, simulated the destruction of 17 armored vehicles in half a day and carried out about 30 strikes on other targets.
