Russian military propagandists have confirmed the loss of two Mi-8 helicopters and their crews over the Black Sea on December 31, 2024.
The helicopters were struck by missile fire launched from a Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV), identified as the MAGURA V5, during a combat operation near Cape Tarkhankut in Crimea.
The incident, initially reported by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR MO), was later corroborated by Russian sources. Ukraine claimed one helicopter was destroyed, while another sustained damage but returned to base. However, Russian sources now acknowledge that both helicopters were lost.
“Losing so many of our best men at once—this hasn’t happened since 2022. Eternal memory to the combat crews. Eternal memory to the warriors,” wrote Ilya Tumanov, a Russian Armed Forces officer and administrator of the Telegram channel Fighterbomber.
The MAGURA V5, deployed by Ukraine’s special operations unit “Group 13,” is an advanced uncrewed maritime platform equipped with missile systems. This mission marked the first confirmed instance of such a vessel successfully downing aerial targets in combat, signaling a transformative moment in modern warfare.
Russian aviation experts have also criticized the tactical shortcomings that led to the losses. “The loss of two Mi-8s could have been avoided by simply adjusting tactics for countering USVs,” noted the Russian Aviation publication.
The incident highlights Ukraine’s increasing reliance on innovative, unmanned technologies to counter traditional military hardware. By integrating advanced systems like the MAGURA V5 with conventional weaponry, Ukraine has demonstrated the potential to challenge conventional air and naval superiority in contested zones like the Black Sea.