Near Odesa, Ukraine, it took only six sea drones powered by jet skis to bring down a Russian guided missile ship last week. According to a rare interview with the secretive Ukrainian unit behind the attack, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence revealed that the small Russian warship, the Ivanovets, was hit multiple times on its hull before being sunk by drones in an inlet on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. A drone pilot involved in the attack, identified as call sign “13”, stated that ten “MAGURA” drones were used, with six successfully hitting and ultimately sinking the Russian warship.
The pilot explained that the “MAGURA” drones, a few meters long and powered by jet skis, have a large range of approximately 800 kilometers (nearly 500 miles), allowing the unit to launch their drones from various locations along Ukraine’s coastline for missions against Crimean targets. The unit, affiliated with Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence agency, has been associated with several attacks on Crimea and Russia, using drones to strike beyond the range of conventional weapons. Night-time footage released by the Ukrainians depicted Russians firing at the drones as they approached the Ivanovets, with at least two drones striking the ship’s side, leading to its disablement and massive explosions.
Kyiv has shown an increasing reliance on drones to counter Russia, with a series of drone attacks targeting strategic Russian installations in recent weeks. This includes an attack on a Russian oil terminal about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Saint Petersburg. According to Ukraine’s defense intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, these attacks have caused disruptions leading to heightened awareness among Russians of the reality of war. Additionally, Ukraine’s top general has called for a wider use of drones on the battlefield to protect Ukrainian troops and negate Russia’s material advantage in arms and ammunition.
Elaborating on the impact of the drones, the pilot described it as delicate work, comparing it to that of a jeweler. Controlled from afar via a Starlink connection, the drones could also be pre-programmed for long journeys across the Black Sea. The pilot emphasized the constant monitoring of the drone’s passage, with the final approach to targets often controlled manually. Despite being nearly six meters long, the drones are difficult to spot, particularly in the open sea, making them sturdy targets for defense. The pilot revealed that even against tough ships of Moscow’s Black Sea fleet, the drones have proven effective.
