Ukrainian Naval Drones Strike Amidst Black Sea Tensions

Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed that a naval drone, the Magura V5, successfully targeted and destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter in the Black Sea. This marks the first known instance of a drone downing an air target, symbolizing Ukraine's growing drone warfare capabilities post-Russia's 2022 invasion.

In a significant development in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukrainian military intelligence reported on Tuesday that a naval drone destroyed a Russian helicopter in the Black Sea.

The Ukrainian GUR spy agency, through a statement on Telegram, detailed the attack near Cape Tarkhankut on Crimea's west coast, where a Magura V5 maritime drone reportedly hit a Russian Mi-8 helicopter. This incident marks the first time a Ukrainian naval drone has successfully downed an aircraft, highlighting Ukraine's enhanced drone capabilities.

While the Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the helicopter incident, it did claim to have destroyed eight unmanned drone vessels in the region. As tensions escalate, Ukraine continues its strategy of utilizing drones to target Russian assets in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014.

(With inputs from agencies.)