Ukraine has announced the destruction of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile launched from a seaborne drone, in what it describes as the first recorded instance of a combat aircraft being downed by such a platform.
The claim was made by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR), which stated that the operation was carried out by its special unit, Group 13. According to a statement released on social media on Saturday, the incident occurred on Friday over the waters near Novorossiisk, a key Russian port city on the Black Sea.
As of yet, the Russian Ministry of Defence has not issued a formal response. However, a prominent Russian military blogger known as Rybar—widely regarded as having close ties to the ministry—acknowledged the downing of the aircraft. He reported that both pilots had ejected and were subsequently rescued by civilian sailors.
In a separate development, the mayor of Novorossiisk declared a state of emergency on Saturday following reports that a Ukrainian drone strike had damaged a grain terminal and several residential buildings, resulting in injuries to five individuals.
