Ukraine downs Russian fighter jet with naval drone

The Ukrainian military announced on Saturday that it had downed a Russian fighter jet using a naval drone, marking what it described as a historic first.

Video footage of the incident  appeared to show a Su-30 fighter jet flying over Novorossiysk, a port city on Russia’s Black Sea coast.

Ukraine’s defence ministry stated that the attack was carried out using a Magura V5 naval drone.

“‼ For the first time in history, a warplane was destroyed by a sea drone. On May 2, @DI_Ukraine together with @ServiceSsu destroyed a russian Su-30 fighter jet near Novorossiysk with a Magura V5 naval drone. War at sea is entering a new era,” the Defense Ministry posted on X, formerly Twitter, on May 3.

Ukraine’s growing fleet of naval drones, which are smaller and less expensive than traditional warships, has been credited with inflicting significant damage on Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

In December 2024, Ukraine reported using the same type of naval drone to shoot down a Russian military helicopter with a missile.

The reported attack comes as peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow appear to have stalled. The U.S. State Department announced it was reducing its role as a primary mediator, though it affirmed its continued support for peace efforts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a three-day halt in hostilities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signaled interest in a longer 30-day ceasefire—an idea reportedly rejected by Moscow.

Earlier, Putin had suggested a 30-hour Easter ceasefire, which Ukrainian officials claimed was violated “2,935 times” by Russian forces.