Ukrainian forces have once again deployed Bayraktar TB2 drones for combat operations, destroying a Russian patrol boat in the Black Sea near occupied territory.
According to the military news outlet Militarnyi, the operation was carried out on August 20 by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense. Ukrainian intelligence troops detected the Russian vessel near the temporarily occupied settlement of Zaliznyi Port in the Kherson region. Using a precision-guided air-launched missile, they struck and destroyed the boat.
The report said all five Russian crew members were killed in the attack.
Ukrainian operators employed a MAM-C/L laser-guided munition launched from the Turkish-manufactured Bayraktar TB2 drone. The strike underscored the enduring utility of the TB2, which Ukraine has increasingly relied on for reconnaissance rather than combat roles in recent months.
Bayraktar TB2 drones, produced in Turkey, are equipped with advanced sensors that allow them to track enemy activity discreetly over long distances. In Ukraine, they are heavily employed in the south and over the Black Sea, conducting daily surveillance of Russian movements. While their surveillance role remains active, officials have noted that TB2 drones are used sparingly for strikes to reduce the risk of being intercepted by Russian fighter aircraft.
The August 20 operation demonstrates the flexibility of the platform, which can still be deployed in strike missions when conditions allow.
The Bayraktar TB2 first gained prominence in the opening weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. At that time, the drones played a crucial role in halting the Russian advance by identifying and striking forward units of the invasion force. Videos of those early strikes, showing Russian armored vehicles destroyed on the battlefield, made the TB2 a symbol of resistance.
Since then, the operational environment has evolved. Russia has improved its air defense posture and deployed advanced fighter aircraft across occupied territories, making it more dangerous for drones to operate openly in strike roles. As a result, Ukraine has shifted much of its TB2 use to intelligence and targeting support missions, allowing other systems to deliver precision strikes.
Nevertheless, the destruction of the patrol boat in Kherson waters highlights that the TB2 remains capable of direct engagement. The ability to strike from long distance with precision munitions allows Ukrainian forces to deny Russia freedom of movement in contested areas of the Black Sea.