Ukraine Hits Russian Rare Su-33 Fighter, Mi-8 Helicopter, and Radars in Massive Black Sea Drone Strike

Ukrainian drone forces destroyed a rare Russian Su-33 carrier-based fighter, an Mi-8 helicopter, and two radar systems during a wide-ranging overnight operation against Russian military targets around the Black Sea, according to Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi on September 9.

Brovdi confirmed that Ukrainian forces struck the Russian naval base at Novorossiysk overnight into September 9, claiming damage to several military vessels, including missile carriers.

Farther along the coast in Anapa, Ukrainian drones destroyed a Su-33 fighter and an Mi-8 helicopter, Brovdi said.

The same operation also targeted two Russian radar systems—a Kasta-2E2 and a 92N6 radar.

The Su-33 is a particularly notable loss.

Developed from the Soviet Su-27, the Su-33 is a twin-engine carrier-based air-superiority fighter designed for operations from Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier. It features folding wings, reinforced landing gear and an arresting hook for carrier operations.

Unlike Russia’s much larger fleets of land-based Su-30 and Su-35 fighters, the Su-33 exists only in limited numbers. Production ended decades ago, and Russia maintains the remaining aircraft rather than manufacturing replacements.

The fighter was originally intended to defend Russian naval formations from aerial threats and can carry air-to-air missiles as well as a 30mm cannon.

With Admiral Kuznetsov spending years undergoing repairs and modernization, and information circulating that it can even be sold for scrapping, surviving Su-33s have frequently operated from land bases rather than from the carrier for which they were designed.

The overnight operation extended well beyond Anapa and Novorossiysk.

Brovdi said Ukrainian drones struck another 13 vessels belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea.

According to the commander, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces have now hit 282 shadow-fleet vessels since July 6.

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He also released broader figures covering combat operations between September 1 and 8, saying the Unmanned Systems Forces struck 16,720 Russian targets and inflicted losses on 3,395 Russian troops during the week.

“+16% in September compared with August. The average daily number of enemy personnel destroyed on the line of contact has increased significantly: 411 personnel per day in September compared with an average of 355 per day in August,” Brovdi said.

He attributed the increase partly to Russia concentrating more troops near the front, particularly in the Dobropillia sector of the Donetsk region.

“[Russian forces] increased the concentration of personnel on the front line, primarily in the Dobropillia direction of the Donetsk region, which was also reflected in the destruction results,” Brovdi added.

Earlier, reports emerged that two Russian Su-35S fighter jets collided in mid-air in the Kursk region. The crash resulted in the death of one pilot, while the second pilot managed to survive.

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