Ukraine Sets World Record With First-Ever FPV Drone Strike on Russian Warship, Over 350 Kilometers Away

For the first time in history, a military ship was successfully struck using an FPV drone, marking a significant achievement for Ukraine’s Defense Forces, Defense Express reported on August 29.

On August 28, 2025, the Ukrainian military targeted and damaged the Russian corvette Buyan-M, a vessel armed with Kalibr cruise missiles, in the Azov Sea, near the Temryuk Bay.

The attack was carried out by the Ukrainian military intelligence unit HUR, utilizing the skills of the Special Operations Forces. The strike, which took place at a distance of over 350 km, demonstrates the precise capabilities of Ukrainian drones.

This marks the first time FPV drones have successfully targeted a military ship of such magnitude. Prior to this, FPV drones had been used to strike smaller vessels, but never a warship of this class.

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The Buyan-M corvette, part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, attempted to maneuver as the drone approached, indicating the crew was aware of the impending threat. However, its air defense systems failed to engage, with no response recorded from its AK-630-M2 “Duet” anti-aircraft gun system, a rapid-fire artillery complex designed to counter drones, missiles, helicopters, and aircraft.

Defense Express speculates that the failure may be due to issues with the ship’s radar systems, which include the MR-352 “Positiv” radar—critical for detecting both sea and air targets. Without this radar, the ship would be “blind.” The damage to the ship’s radar means that it will need repairs, which is a lengthy process for systems of that type.

The Buyan-M is part of a class of seven corvettes in the Black Sea and Caspian Flotillas, with additional units in the Baltic Fleet. Additionally, the AK-630-M2 “Duet” system is also installed on large landing ships like Ivan Gren and Pyotr Morgunov, further illustrating its role in Russia’s naval defense, Defense Express wrote.

Previously, HUR has confirmed the destruction of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet by a Magura sea drone, marking the first recorded instance of a military aircraft being eliminated by a maritime drone system.

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