Two Russian fighter jets have been downed over the Black Sea, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
Intelligence out of Kyiv, which initially reported striking down one jet on May 2, now says it hit two jets.
Ukrainian naval missiles shot from a drone boat performed the strikes. If the reports are true, the incident marks the first time a fighter jet has been struck down by a missile launched from a drone boat.
Newsweek has not independently verify the strikes. The Russian Foreign Ministry has been contacted for comment.
Why It Matters
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has been developing its sea drones to push Russia’s navy back from the Black Sea along its main site in Crimea.
The strike on May 2 was hailed as a “world first” by the Ukrainian military as it demonstrated the capabilities of its navy’s sea drones.
What To Know
Ukraine’s intelligence agency, the GUR, posted a video of the strikes on Telegram, detailing what occurred at sea.
According to the post, on Friday, the GUR unit Group 13, in cooperation with Ukraine’s SBU military intelligence and Ukrainian defense forces, eliminated a Russian Su-30 in the Black Sea using a Magura sea drone equipped with a missile warhead.
Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the GUR, told defense news site the War Zone that a second jet was also hit but that there was no footage of the second strike.
Budanov said the GUR shot down two Su-30 Flanker multirole fighters. These jets cost about $50 million each.
The missiles used in the strike were AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missiles, which were fired by two Magura-7 drone boats.
Initial reports from the scene said the crew aboard the first jet survived and were rescued by a civilian boat, but the crew aboard the second jet was killed.
What People Are Saying
The GUR, Ukraine’s intelligence agency, said: “For the first time in the world, GUR soldiers destroyed an enemy combat aircraft with a strike from a Magura sea drone.”
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said: “For the first time in history, a warplane was destroyed by a sea drone … War at sea is entering a new era.”
What Happens Next
Russia is preparing for Victory Day celebrations on May 9. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he cannot guarantee the safety of global leaders attending the event, sparking speculation over whether Ukraine is planning a counteroffensive on the day.
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