- Category
- Latest news
Elite Russian Divers Try to Capture Ukrainian Drone—None Survive
- Authors
![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Five elite Russian naval divers were killed in Novorossiysk Bay after attempting to examine a Ukrainian sea drone that detonated during recovery efforts, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported on August 22.
Novorossiysk serves as the main base for the remnants of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet following repeated Ukrainian strikes on Sevastopol.
Ukraine’s military intelligence unveils next-gen naval drones:
— Ivan Khomenko (@KhomenkoIv60065) May 15, 2025
🟢 Magura V6P – multi-role platform
🟢 Magura V7 – first sea drone to down a warplane
🟢 Magura V7 with onboard machine gun module pic.twitter.com/40hzIwmetK
“Summer thunder in Novorossiysk—during a Defense Intelligence operation in the Black Sea, one of Ukraine’s strike sea drones reached Novorossiysk Bay, where the aggressor state Russia keeps what’s left of its large Black Sea Fleet vessels,” the HUR said in a statement.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the drone lost contact with its operators due to Russian electronic warfare systems and began drifting.
🧵1/ Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels shoot down a Russian fighter jet by a Magura V7 maritime surface drone—the new, extended-range version of Ukraine’s unmanned surface vessel pic.twitter.com/UJxMcxNl6W
— CIT (en) (@CITeam_en) May 5, 2025
After some time, local Russian commanders ordered the unmanned vessel lifted from the bay for examination.
“To carry out the task, a group of five elite naval reconnaissance divers from Russia’s so-called PDSS unit [anti-sabotage underwater forces and assets] were deployed. These are highly trained combat divers whose preparation requires significant financial resources and time, and who are equipped with the best gear available,” the HUR noted.
While manipulating the Ukrainian Magura V5 sea drone, it exploded—killing all five Russian divers instantly.
HUR further reported growing anger among Russian naval personnel in Novorossiysk over what they described as a senseless “meat order” from commanders that led to the loss of an elite team.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov confirmed that two Russian Su-30SM fighter jets were shot down over the Black Sea using AIM-9 air-to-air missiles launched from Magura-class unmanned surface vessels.
