Ukraine has successfully begun to push Russian military aircraft out of the skies above the Black Sea using advanced maritime drone technology, according to the country’s top intelligence official. Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate at the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, confirmed that new Ukrainian-made Magura V7 drones are playing a key role in the evolving air and sea battle.
Speaking to reporters, Budanov stated, “You see the air defence missiles, and that speaks for itself. We are starting to push the Russians out of the air over the Black Sea.” His comments mark a major shift in Ukraine’s capabilities, suggesting it is no longer just Russian ships but now also Russian aircraft that are restricted in their movement in this critical region.
On 2 May 2025, Magura V7 drones successfully shot down two Russian Su-30 fighter jets. This historic event highlights the increasing effectiveness of Ukraine’s domestically developed unmanned systems. The V7 version is a next-generation upgrade of the earlier Magura models, which had already been credited with damaging or destroying at least 16 Russian naval vessels, including nine that were sunk. The drones are believed to have a range of around 800 kilometres and are armed with air defence missile systems and turrets.
Ukraine’s use of these drones has transformed the situation in the Black Sea. According to Group 13, a unit of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, Russian ships have now been largely driven out of the western part of the sea and are forced to remain at their bases. Their ability to carry out planned naval operations has been significantly reduced.
Ukrainian military intelligence figures such as Andrii Yusov confirm that while technology plays a vital role, it is the professionalism of Ukrainian personnel that has been key in pushing back the Russian fleet. Yusov added that the Magura drones are constantly being improved, offering Ukraine growing leverage in naval and aerial confrontations.
The first known attack by Ukrainian Magura drones on Russian helicopters occurred on 31 December 2024, when two Mi-8 helicopters were destroyed and another was damaged. This marked a turning point in Ukraine’s defence strategy at sea, one which has now expanded to include aerial threats.
