Ukraine today claimed the historic downing by a missile-firing drone at sea of a £12 million Russian Mi-8 military helicopter off the coast of occupied Crimea.
The attack with a Magura V5 was announced by Kiev’s military intelligence and shown in new images.
Footage showed the Mi-8 helicopter desperately firing flares as the missile, an R-73 ‘Sea Dragon’, chased it.
After being hit by the missile, the Mi-8 can be seen crashing into the sea.
“On December 31, 2024, soldiers of the GUR special unit Group 13 of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine hit an air target for the first time in history using a Magura V5 naval drone equipped with missile weapons,” the ministry said in a statement. .
‘During a battle in the Black Sea near Cape Tarkhankut of temporarily occupied Crimea, a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was destroyed by the use of R-73 ‘Sea Dragon’ missiles.
“Another similar enemy helicopter was hit by fire and was able to reach the base airfield.”
The R-73 is a short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile that Ukraine has adapted for use on marine drones.
Ukraine today claimed the historic £12 million downing by a missile-firing drone at sea of a Russian Mi-8 military helicopter.
The Mi-8 helicopter (photo) is one of Putin’s flagship helicopters
Footage showed the Mi-8 helicopter desperately firing flares as the missile, an R-73 ‘Sea Dragon’, chased it
Russia did not immediately confirm the loss of a military helicopter.
But Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Russian governor of Sevastopol in Crimea, said on Telegram that two unmanned drone ships were destroyed overnight near the coast.
Magura V5 drones are remotely controlled by an operator and are usually packed with up to 200 kg (440 lbs) of explosives.
They are only 18 feet long, making them incredibly difficult to shoot down.
They have a typical operating range of up to 400 km (248 miles), but can be operated up to 800 km and can be used for up to 60 hours.
Magura V5s typically travel at 41 km/h (25 mph) and have a top speed of 78 km/h) and cost around $273,000 (£218,000) to build.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems shot down 17 drones over Crimea overnight.
The country also launched an airstrike on Ukraine on Tuesday, hitting the capital and other regions with multiple missiles and drones.
Ukrainian Marine Corps soldiers transfer personnel to the British Mastiff infantry fighting vehicle on the front line of Kurakhove, Ukraine on December 28, 2024
About half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed during the war, and long-term electricity outages are frequent and widespread.
Magura V5 drones are remotely controlled by an operator and are usually packed with up to 200 kg (440 lbs) of explosives
Magura V5s are only 18 feet long, making them incredibly difficult to shoot down
Magura V5s typically travel at 41 km/h (25 mph) and have a top speed of 78 km/h) and cost around $273,000 (£218,000) to build
They have a typical operating range of up to 400 km (248 miles), but can be operated up to 800 km and can be used for up to 60 hours
The Ukrainian air force reported a ballistic missile threat at 3 a.m. (0100 GMT), with at least two explosions heard in Kiev minutes later. Another rocket alert was sounded at 8:00 am, followed by at least one explosion in the city.
Rocket debris fell in the capital’s Darnytskyi district with no reports of casualties or damage, the local administration said.
Authorities in the northeastern Sumy region reported strikes near the town of Shostka, where the mayor, Mykola Noha, said 12 residential buildings and two educational institutions had been damaged. He said some “social infrastructure objects” were destroyed, without giving details.
The air force also reported that missiles and drones were targeted at several other regions of Ukraine.
In Moscow, Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces had successfully attacked a Ukrainian air base and a gunpowder factory.
About half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed during the war, and long-term electricity outages are frequent and widespread.
Kiev’s Western allies have provided air defense systems to help Ukraine protect critical infrastructure, but Russia has tried to overwhelm its air defenses with combined attacks involving large numbers of missiles and drones.