Ukraine Claims Historic Downing of Russian Fighter Jet by Sea Drone

Novorossiysk, Russia — Ukrainian military intelligence reported on May 3 that a Russian Su-30 fighter jet was destroyed on May 2 by a naval drone strike near the port city of Novorossiysk. This incident marks the first time a sea drone has successfully targeted and downed a combat aircraft.

The operation was carried out by Group 13, a specialized unit of the Ukrainian military intelligence agency HUR, using a Magura sea drone armed with a missile warhead. A statement from HUR stated, ‘This is the world’s first destruction of a combat aircraft by a naval drone.’

The Su-30, valued at approximately $50 million, was reportedly struck in midair and subsequently crashed into the sea, according to Ukrainian officials. The intelligence agency clarified that the operation was conducted in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the nation’s defense forces.

In a related note, local Russian authorities claimed that a Ukrainian drone attack on the Krasnodar Krai region also took place on the same night, injuring four civilians and damaging a grain terminal. Following these incidents, a state of emergency was declared in Novorossiysk following the drone attack.

On the same day, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine’s military had destroyed a second Russian military aircraft within 24 hours during an airstrike on a military airfield in Crimea. He described the escalating conflict and Ukraine’s determination to combat Russian aggression as they face unprecedented warfare.

While the events unfolded, the Kremlin maintained silence on the report of the destroyed fighter jet. The situation continues to develop as both nations engage in intensified military operations amidst ongoing tensions.