New footage released by Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency reveals a recent attack by Ukrainian naval drones on Russian ships in Crimea. The attack, which took place early on May 30, targeted two Russian patrol boats near the peninsula’s western coast. The GUR confirmed that its special unit, Group 13, successfully deployed Magura V5 unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in the operation.
The footage, though grainy, shows one of the naval drones being targeted by a helicopter, followed by night-vision clips of a vessel firing at incoming drones. The video culminates with an image suggesting a USV striking a stationary ship. The strike destroyed two KC-701 Tuna-class boats, which are commonly used by Russian security forces and oligarchs.
🔥💥 Ukrainian Magura V5 drones destroys two enemy boats in Crimea, – GUR
👀 According to preliminary data, two KS-701 “Tunets” high-speed transport landing craft were destroyed. pic.twitter.com/lzCTLP88IJ
— MAKS 24 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) May 30, 2024
In addition to the drone strikes, an overnight attack on the port city of Kerch in Crimea damaged two transport ferries. According to Crimea’s Russian-installed transportation chief, Nikolai Lukashenko, the damage was caused by debris from downed missiles during an attempt to repel an enemy attack on the transport infrastructure. Local residents reported hearing up to 20 explosions, and traffic on the Kerch Bridge was temporarily halted.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that its Black Sea Fleet had destroyed four Ukrainian unmanned boats in the northwestern part of the Black Sea over the past day. The ministry also claimed that its air defenses intercepted eight Ukrainian-operated Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles over the Sea of Azov and eight airborne drones over the Black Sea.
Reports indicate that the Ukrainian attack also targeted other Russian vessels, damaging four additional KC-701 boats. These high-speed amphibious boats, used for various purposes including logistics and patrolling, were destroyed in the attack near Chornomorske in the Yevpatoriia district.
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