For the first time in the world, a Ukrainian naval drone has shot down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet

A Ukrainian Magura naval drone has shot down a Russian Su-30 multirole fighter jet near the city of Novorossiysk in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai.

This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.

Russian “war correspondents” on social media were the first to break the news. They complained that on the evening of May 2, a Russian naval aviation fighter jet was shot down about 50 kilometers from Novorossiysk.

“They took it down using a tactic: lure and strike. The pilots ejected and were picked up by civilian sailors. Both survived, and as for the aircraft — to hell with it. The main thing is the men are alive,” wrote pro-Russian propagandist ‘Rybar’.

Ukrainian intelligence reported that the “historic strike” was carried out by fighters of the Defence Intelligence special unit Group 13, using a missile launched from the Magura unmanned naval platform, in coordination with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the country’s Defense Forces.

“The multirole fighter jet of the aggressor state, Russia—estimated to be worth around 50 million dollars—burst into flames mid-air and eventually plunged into the sea, to the depths ruled by the merciless ‘Neptune,’” the Intelligence Directorate stated.

Nighttime drone attack in Russia

As a reminder, on the evening of May 2 and into the night of May 3, reports emerged of massive drone attacks across several regions of Russia. Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that 170 Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed or intercepted:

• 96 over occupied Crimea,
• 47 over Krasnodar Krai,
• 9 over Rostov Oblast,
• 8 each over Bryansk and Kursk Oblasts,
• 2 over Belgorod Oblast.

In addition, Russian sources claimed the destruction of 8 Storm Shadow missiles, 3 Ukrainian “Neptune-MD” guided missiles, and 14 Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels.

Telegram channels reported a combined attack on Novorossiysk, stating that Russian forces had to intercept both unmanned boats and drones, which arrived in several waves.

The governor of Krasnodar Krai stated that Novorossiysk suffered the most serious consequences: three apartment buildings were damaged, and four people were injured.

Iryna Sitnikova