Ukrainian Navy Destroys Russian Drone Control Equipment on Black Sea Gas Platform

Ukraine’s Naval Forces struck Russian military infrastructure installed on the Syvash self-elevating drilling platform at the Holitsynske gas condensate field in the Black Sea, destroying equipment used to support drone operations against southern Ukraine.

According to the Ukrainian Navy on August 8, the operation was carried out jointly with other components of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. The military said Russian forces had converted the offshore platform into a forward military position, installing systems used to coordinate strike drones and monitor Ukrainian activity in the Black Sea.

The Navy stated that the equipment on the platform was used to guide and adjust attacks by Russian strike UAVs targeting southern Ukrainian cities. It also enabled Russian forces to detect the movement of Ukrainian drones and uncrewed surface vessels operating in the area.

In addition to surveillance and drone-control systems, the platform hosted Russian special operations personnel and stored military equipment, including man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and other weapons intended to counter Ukrainian aerial and naval drones.

The Ukrainian military released video footage showing strikes on the installation but did not disclose what weapons were used or whether the platform remains operational after the attack.

The strike follows another Ukrainian operation in temporarily occupied Crimea reported on August 7, when naval and aerial drones targeted Yalta, causing a fire near a location where senior Russian military officers were reportedly gathering.

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