The Ukrainian military has destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone, marking the world’s first downing of a combat plane by a maritime drone.
The incident occurred over waters near Novorossiisk, a major Russian port city on the Black Sea, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.
Ukraine has turned to drone warfare as a way to fight back against its larger and wealthier Russian adversary in the ongoing war.
Recalled that the Ukrainian seaborne drones have wrought havoc on Russia’s Black Sea fleet, and previously shot down a Russian military helicopter in December 2024 using a similar drone.
A Russian blogger believed to be close to the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the downing of the Su-30 jet, stating it was shot down 50 kilometers west of Novorossiisk using a surface-to-air missile.
“Yesterday towards evening, an Su-30 naval aviation fighter jet was shot down by the Ukrainian side 50 kilometres west of Novorossiisk.
“This was done from an uncrewed boat with an R-73 SAM (surface-to-air missile),” the blogger, who goes by the name Rybar, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Novorossiisk declared a state of emergency after a Ukrainian drone attack damaged a grain terminal and several residential buildings, injuring five people.