On Tuesday, Ukrainian military intelligence reported that one of their naval drones destroyed a Russian helicopter in the Black Sea and damaged another.

Ukraine's GUR intelligence agency reported on Telegram that a Magura V5 naval drone with missiles was involved in a battle on the west coast of Crimea on Tuesday. The Magura V5 hit a Russian Mi-8 helicopter.

GUR claimed that it was the very first time an Ukrainian naval drone has downed a target in the air. Could not independently verify this report.

Moscow has not commented on the helicopter. The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Telegram that its Black Sea Fleet had destroyed eight drone ships.

Voenny Osvedomitel, a prominent Russian military blogger reported the downing of a Russian chopper by a Ukrainian drone. The GUR reported that a second Russian helicopter managed to reach the airfield despite being damaged by the attack.

GUR released grainy footage showing a helicopter hovering over water being targeted by multiple projectiles. After the attack, footage shows the aircraft falling to its knees. Could not verify the video immediately.

Ukraine increased drone production in response to Russia's invasion of the country on February 20, 2022. It also developed naval attack drones.

Kyiv has used drones to attack Russian warships on the Crimean Peninsula, which was seized by Moscow and annexed in 2014.

Ukraine claims that missile and drone strikes caused heavy damage to Russia’s main naval base at Sevastopol, and the Black Sea Fleet was forced to relocate almost all of its warships.

(source: Reuters)