Ukraine’s Naval Drones Shoot Down Russian Helicopters in Historic Black Sea Operation

Ukrainian Magura V5 drones equipped with heat-seeking missiles destroy two Russian Mi-8 helicopters and damage a third near occupied Crimea.

Ukraine's Group 13 special forces used Magura V5 naval drones to destroy two Russian Mi-8 helicopters and damage a third in a first-of-its-kind operation in the Black Sea.
The drones, equipped with adapted R-73 heat-seeking missiles dubbed 'SeaDragon,' successfully targeted aerial assets for the first time in naval drone warfare history.
The attack occurred near Cape Tarkhankut, off the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea, with the destroyed helicopters' crews reportedly killed, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
Experts highlight the significance of Ukraine’s innovation, turning naval drones into surface-to-air missile platforms, which could challenge Russian air operations over the Black Sea.
This marks a major milestone for Ukraine's domestically developed drone program, which has already disrupted Russian naval operations and infrastructure in the region.