Naval Drone Downs $50m Russian Fighter Jet, Ukraine Says--'World's First'

[blue-wave]

Source: Newsweek

A Ukrainian sea drone downed a $50-million Russian fighter jet over the Black Sea in what has been described as a world first, according to military intelligence in Kyiv.

Ukraine's intelligence agency, the GUR, published video of what it said was an unprecedented operation near the Russian port of Novorossiysk using a Magura sea drone that was equipped with a missile warhead.

Ukraine's claims have not been independently verified and Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment.

Why it matters
Since the start of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has developed its drones which have been used to make headline-grabbing strikes in the Black Sea pushing Russia's Navy back from its main site in Crimea.

As a sign of these developing capabilities, Ukraine used the Magura V5 drone to down two Russian Mi-8 helicopters on December 31, 2024 in what was then considered a world-first drone strike on airborne targets from the sea. A drone strike on a Russian fighter jet demonstrates a new threat for Moscow.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/drone-naval-sukhoi-jet-2067633

---

In other news concerning Ukraine:

Zelenskyy refuses to guarantee safety of Putin's foreign dignitaries to watch Red Square parade

Read More: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/zelenskyy-refuses-to-guarantee-safety-of-putins-foreign-dignitaries-to-watch-red-square-parade/articleshow/120852485.cms


I've read reports of foreign dignitaries already backing off their plans to attend the parade. Putin himself reportedly will attend only via video conferencing. And it would be remiss to not mention the Kremlin threats to Ukraine if something should happen during the parade.

‘Nobody will guarantee dawn of May 10 in Kyiv’: Kremlin warns after Ukraine refuses offer for ceasefire during Moscow parade

Read More: https://indianexpress.com/article/world/zelenskyy-russia-ceasefire-rejection-may-9-victory-day-parade-9980970/

[Earl_from_PA]

1. In December 1979

The Soviets invaded Afghanistan.
Afghanistan, the graveyard of empires.
Just short of 10 years, they withdrew. Not because of human losses/injuries, but because of the total cost of loss of equipment. With American supplied shoulder fired surface to air missiles, the Soviets lost, on average more than one aircraft per day. Jets and helicopters. They simply could not afford it anymore.
Ukraine is employing the same strategy, bankrupt the Russian war machine. Given the fact that Russia is having issues selling natural gas and oil, their revenue stream cannot keep up with the losses. Just like Afghanistan, this is a war of attrition, one Ukraine will win.

[blue-wave]

2. And given the fact that.....

"Given the fact that Russia is having issues selling natural gas and oil, their revenue stream cannot keep up with the losses."

Just posted in LBN above this post is an article stating that OPEC is going to boost production again, likely lowering oil prices even more on the world market.

[Earl_from_PA]

3. Which only helps one

Side of the conflict, while impeding the other (the aggressor)...

[James48]

4. Dang.

Sounds like we’re about to kick it off.

Better get my gear packed and greased up.

[Cha]

5. Wow Ukrainians are Smart!!🌻💙

Mahalo blue-wave!

[blue-wave]

6. Mahalo Cha!

[kimbutgar]

7. Excellent, anytime Russia is hurt I applaud !

[LisaM]

8. I want Ukraine to win this, but boy, do I hate war.

What on earth is the matter with us, using the Earth's resources this way?

[blue-wave]

10. I wish I knew the answer and solution to your question

How many great minds have we lost, thereby losing great discoveries in all the sciences, to the senselessness of war?

[Cha]

14. Aloha LisaM 🕯️🕊️💙🌻🍁🇨🇦

🌊

[LisaM]

17. Right?

Hi, Cha.

[Mopar151]

15. Quite a lot, really!

It's pretty sad that fascists and oligarchs/royalty see any net positives in armed conflic.
Worse yet, many fools see fascism as the only way to combat fascism!
In reality, the best soldiers want to get war over with yesterday, so they can go back to work!

If you want to find fascists, start with those afraid of work! Just look around, and see who's never picked up a hammer or broom, never waited on a customer , never locked up after the late shift...

[LT Barclay]

21. I explored it mentally this way, and explained it to my kids:

A few thousand years ago it is estimated that the world's population was about 100 million. About 1/4 the US population. Yet if you use ancient Greece as a example, the men packed up every summer, marched a few hundred miles, left behind their wives, children, crops and more productive pursuits, to go get in a fight with someone that was essentially just like them. Risking their lives, livelihood, property and more in the pursuit of making their lands more vulnerable to invasion.
I don't know how that makes sense, but the armor was really cool looking.

[Gore1FL]

9. A Houthi Missile managed to sink and F-18.

It's a week for WTF mility aircraft.

[OrangeJoe]

11. New US fighter

Meanwhile the geniuses at the Pentagon insist on fighting the last war with Billion dollar ships and, coming in a few years, a brand spanking new $100 million dollar fighter. Both of these are easily destroyed with relatively cheap hypersonic missiles or dirt cheap drones. Let's hear it for the military industrial complex that's raking in an additional $150 billion this year from Donny, putting them at a cool $1 Trillion for FY 26.

[littlemissmartypants]

12. No big deal ...

It was only worth a little parade and a few golf games.




❤️

[NickB79]

16. What are you talking about?

The F-18 lost in the Red Sea accidentally fell off an aircraft carrier while powered down and being towed on deck.

If the US had lost a jet to the Houthis, half of Yemen would be on fire right now.

[Gore1FL]

23. The Plane fell off the deck as a result of a Houthi missile attack.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/29/fighter-jet-falls-off-aircraft-carrier

[Prairie Gates]

18. Hey! It's completely implausible to think that a fighter jet got shot down in an area

where the US is performing dozens of airstrikes a week.

It's much more plausible to believe that an F-18 simply slid off an aircraft carrier in that same area.

[Shipwack]

20. While I don't necessarily trust any story...

… released by the military, covering up a loss of a US jet from enemy fire by claiming it had slid off a carrier would require too many people keeping quiet.

Out of the several thousand people on a deployed carrier, there are quite a few disgruntled sailors. Someone would talk, and there is too much paperwork to alter.

“Three men can keep a secret if two of them are dead.” - Ben Franklin

[Hornedfrog2000]

22. Lol

Someone might correct a lie a month later? Nobody cares by then

[Shipwack]

25. A month? Welcome to the 21st century, my friend.

Carriers have internet access and email. There are also cell phones. Not to mention, people come and go all the time.

There’s video of the jet going over the side. Various nations were watching the ships via satellite.

Also, it would require people on shore being involved.

Again, too many people to keep a secret.

[Gore1FL]

24. It slid off the deck as a resuilt of the missile attack.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/04/29/fighter-jet-lost-hornet-houthis-red-sea/

I put a different link in this one than my last post where I responded similarly above.

[littlemissmartypants]

13. 🌻🇺🇦❤️🇺🇦🌻 Slava Ukraini! 🌻🇺🇦❤️🇺🇦🌻

[liberalla]

19. Kick!

[ImNotGod]

26. Drones revenge after those jets kept dumping fuel in their path. nt

[orangecrush]

27. Carry on!

EOM

[LetMyPeopleVote]

28. Here is the drone that took out these aircrafts

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

29. The loss of these two aircrafts made me smile

This report is from this weekend

Link to tweet