Ukrainian forces have successfully targeted a Russian-controlled gas production platform in the Black Sea using advanced naval drones, sparking alarm among Russian military bloggers. The strike, carried out overnight between 1 and 2 May, involved a surface drone likely armed with a guided missile. Footage circulating in Russian online groups shows the drone firing a missile before swiftly retreating, demonstrating Ukraine’s growing naval capabilities.
This marks another example of Ukraine’s innovative use of sea drones, which have previously been equipped with grenade launchers, anti-aircraft missiles, and even small reconnaissance drones. However, the latest attack suggests a significant upgrade, as the missile appeared to adjust its trajectory mid-flight, indicating the use of precision-guided weaponry, possibly an anti-tank missile. Additionally, a second drone launched a small UAV, likely an FPV drone, to assess damage or coordinate further strikes.
Ukrainian naval drones now boast a versatile arsenal, including mines, machine guns, torpedoes, and drone carriers, allowing them to perform offensive operations, patrols, and defensive actions against Russian forces. Russian military commentators have admitted that their coastal defences struggle to counter these highly manoeuvrable Ukrainian drones, highlighting a critical vulnerability in Moscow’s Black Sea operations.
The attack follows a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian military targets in occupied Crimea, with explosions reported near Sevastopol and several airfields, including Simferopol, Kachi, Belbek, Saki, Novofedorovka, and Dzhankoy. Russian occupation authorities claimed Ukraine deployed both drones and Neptune anti-ship missiles in the assault, though Kyiv has not confirmed these details.
