Ukraine unveils naval drones that crippled Russian Navy

Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) publicly unveiled its latest sea drone technologies on May 15, 2025, in Kyiv.

Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, chief of the GUR, led the presentation, marking the first time the full range of Ukraine’s combat-proven maritime drones was displayed to the public.

The event featured several Magura-class drones, each tailored for different tactical roles:

• The Magura V5, widely known for its role in crippling Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels.
• The Magura V6P, a multipurpose platform designed for adaptable missions.
• The Magura V7, a strike-capable drone that, for the first time in history, destroyed an enemy combat aircraft.

A separate V7 model outfitted with a machine gun combat module.

These sea drones, developed and operated by the GUR’s special unit Group 13, have significantly shifted the operational balance in the Black Sea. Over the past two years, the Magura drones have struck 17 Russian maritime and airborne targets, fully destroying 15, including Mi-8 helicopters, Su-30 fighter jets, and multiple large vessels such as the Sergey Kotov, Ivanovets, and Caesar Kunikov.

Ukrainian military intelligence estimates the damage inflicted on Russian forces exceeds $500 million.

In a statement during the presentation, the unit commander, known by the call sign “Thirteenth,” said, “We can confidently say that GUR MO of Ukraine and Group 13 have forced the Russian Black Sea Fleet back into their bases. They are constrained in their operations and no longer conduct missions as intended.”

He added that December 31, 2024, marked a pivotal moment: “Two Russian Mi-8 helicopters were destroyed, one was damaged. As you know, we also took down two aircraft.”

The Magura drone series, now an essential part of Ukraine’s asymmetric naval strategy, has demonstrated how low-cost, high-effectiveness unmanned systems can challenge traditional naval powers in contested maritime zones.