Historical moment in the Black Sea.

On May 2, 2025, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR, announced that its special operations unit, Group 13, had successfully shot down Russian Su-30 fighter jets over the Black Sea near Novorossiysk, a key Russian port city. This unprecedented incident marks the first known case of manned combat aircraft being destroyed by missiles launched from unmanned surface vessels (USVs).

Originally designed for maritime operations, these drones have now been adapted to carry and launch air-to-air missiles—an innovation that reflects a major leap in Ukraine’s military capabilities. According to reports, Ukrainian drone operators maneuvered the Russian jet into missile range before launching a successful strike that resulted in the destruction of the SU-30, an aircraft worth nearly $50 million. 

Naval News, a platform specializing in global naval developments, published the first image of the Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel (USV) involved in the strike. The drone was identified as the new Magura V7 model, outfitted with two U.S.-supplied AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.                           

 This historic achievement marks the first time a surface drone has ever brought down a manned combat aircraft.