In a remarkable demonstration of innovation in warfare, Ukraine has successfully shot down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile launched from a maritime drone, according to Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency. This event marks a historic first, as it is reportedly the world’s initial instance of a combat aircraft being downed by a drone operating over water.
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In a statement shared through social media, the agency revealed that the fighter jet was intercepted by a military intelligence unit known as Group 13 yesterday, in the waters near Novorossiysk, a key Russian port city on the Black Sea.
Faced with a larger and more resourceful adversary, Ukraine has adeptly turned to drone warfare—both aerial and maritime—as a vital strategy to counterattack throughout the protracted three-year conflict. As the old adage says, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” and this shift highlights Ukraine’s resilience.
Ukraine’s seaborne drones, which are more cost-effective and compact than traditional naval vessels, have wreaked havoc on Russia’s Black Sea fleet, demonstrating a shift in the dynamics of modern warfare.
This sea strike announcement coincides with the declaration of a state of emergency by Novorossiysk’s mayor, who reported that a Ukrainian drone attack today has damaged residential buildings and resulted in at least five injuries, including two children.
Watch: The moment a Ukrainian drone strikes a building in the Russian port city of Novorossiysk.
Andrei Kravchenko, the mayor, shared his decision on his official Telegram account today, showcasing the aftermath of the strikes as he inspected damaged apartments and coordinated responses from local authorities. He conveyed grave concern for a woman who was hospitalized in serious condition due to the attack.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported a significant overnight offensive from Russia, featuring an assault with 183 drones and two ballistic missiles. Remarkably, they managed to down 77 of the drones, while an additional 73 fell without causing any harm.
In a different context, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked on the evolving perspective of U.S. leader Donald Trump following their Vatican meeting last month, noting, “I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently.” He emphasized that this conversation represented the best interaction they’ve had to date.
Zelensky and Trump purportedly discussed a potential 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow as a constructive first step towards achieving peace. However, he laid aside a three-day truce ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, coinciding with Moscow’s World War II commemorations, asserting, “Kyiv is prepared for a full ceasefire.”
Nor would Ukraine “play games to create a pleasant atmosphere” for Putin’s symbolic exit from isolation during the upcoming commemorations, he stated emphatically. He urged that Russia bears responsibility for ensuring the safety of global leaders attending these events.
On another front, in Kharkiv—the second-largest city in Ukraine—damage assessments are underway following a mass drone attack that struck a high-rise apartment building, injuring 46 people, according to local officials. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that strikes were executed in 12 locations across four central districts, an area that lies 30 kilometers from Ukraine’s northeastern border and has frequently been targeted by Russian air assaults.
Zelensky condemned the drone strikes, pointing out the indiscriminate targeting of civilian structures, as he articulated, “There were no military targets, nor could there be any. Russia strikes dwellings when Ukrainians are in their homes, when they are putting their children to bed.”
While Russia contends that it does not purposely target civilians, thousands have tragically lost their lives since it began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
