Ukraine has become the first country in the world to destroy a combat aircraft using a maritime drone. On 2 May 2025, an unmanned maritime platform named “Mura” launched a missile that brought down a Russian Su30 multi-role fighter jet over the Black Sea. The dramatic event was executed by Ukraine’s Group 13 special forces unit, working in coordination with the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
The attack occurred near the Russian naval base in Novorossiysk. The downed aircraft, estimated to be worth around $50 million or approximately £39.8 million, belonged to the 43rd Air Assault Regiment of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet, based in illegally occupied Saki, Crimea. The Russian jet ignited mid-air before crashing into the sea.
This operation marks a turning point in modern warfare. Ukrainian forces are increasingly using advanced drone technology to counter Russian military assets both at sea and in the air. Until recently, Russian fighter jets and helicopters had been deployed to locate and destroy Ukrainian maritime drones. However, this reliance has become more vulnerable due to the drones’ small size and the need for visual confirmation to target them effectively.
Ukraine’s Group 13 has carried out similar operations before. On 31 December, a Mura drone downed two Russian Mi8 helicopters off the coast of occupied Crimea, a strike also captured on video. These growing capabilities demonstrate Ukraine’s innovative and determined resistance to Russian aggression.
Meanwhile, France has condemned North Korea’s growing involvement in supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine, stating that such support directly threatens global and European security. The French government has urged Pyongyang to immediately halt its cooperation with the Kremlin’s military actions.
There are also growing concerns within the Russian regime itself. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has reportedly been misled by his military leadership, who falsely claimed the full liberation of Kursk Oblast while battles continued near the border. Such misinformation is reportedly common within the Russian Ministry of Defence.
In another development, reports indicate that Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) is planning staged terror attacks in regional cities on 9 May to falsely blame Ukraine. The goal is to fuel public outrage, derail any chances of peace talks, and justify continued warfare.
Meanwhile, across Russia, bizarre rituals and Soviet-style propaganda continue. Citizens in Omsk recently participated in a ceremony crawling through a replica of a pipe associated with past military operations, and others stood in long queues for a ceremonial bowl of “soldier’s porridge” — a pre-May 9 tradition steeped in nationalist symbolism.
Elsewhere in Europe, a 59-year-old Georgian-born man has been arrested in Greece for spying on NATO operations in Alexandroupoli. The suspect had been filming military shipments, including those headed to Ukraine, on behalf of a suspected Russian GRU agent.
Additionally, the UK has completed the handover of all its AS90 self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine. Initially planned to be decommissioned in the 2030s, the British Army retired these systems early and replaced them with 14 Swedish-made Archer artillery units. The move, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, is part of a broader support strategy for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s continued aggression.
The Pentagon has also admitted to serious gaps in the defence of US military bases against drones. Over 350 drone-related security incidents were recorded in 2024, leading US defence officials to consider authorising lethal countermeasures to protect personnel and strategic assets.
The financial impact of Russia’s invasion continues to unfold. Europe plans to redirect €3 billion (about £2.57 billion) in frozen Russian assets to Western investors, following Moscow’s earlier seizure of foreign investment capital in Russia.
