DRAMATIC images show the moment Ukraine claimed responsibility for the historic downing of a Russian M-8 military helicopter off the coast of occupied Crimea by a missile-firing marine drone.
kyiv’s military intelligence announced the attack in the Black Sea with a Magura V5 and included a clip of the historic moment.
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In the black and white images taken from the marine drone, gusts of water around the drone can be seen launching into the air as Vladimir Putin’s helicopter attacked.
Viewers can quickly spot the Russian plane in the upper right corner of the video approaching the drone’s range reticle before it briefly disappears from view.
Then another angle shows the helicopter in the drone’s line of sight with a red box marking the Russian target.
The missiles can then be seen flying through the sky before hitting the Mi-8 which fell into the sea.
The Mi-8 is reported to cost up to $15m (£12m) and has previously been used by Russia in the conflict with Ukraine to transport weapons and personnel.
It is also equipped with precision bombing capabilities and can be used to provide fire support to ground forces.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR) ended the video of the successful attack with a Happy New Year message.
A statement confirms: “On December 31, 2024, soldiers of the special unit GUR Group 13 of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine hit an aerial target for the first time in history using a Magura V5 marine drone equipped with missile weapons.
“During a battle in the Black Sea near Cape Tarkhankut of temporarily occupied Crimea, a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was destroyed by the use of R-73 ‘Sea Dragon’ missiles.
“Another similar enemy helicopter was hit by fire and was able to reach the base’s airfield.”
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The R-73 is a short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile that Ukraine has adapted for use on marine drones.
Russia did not immediately confirm the loss of the military helicopter.
But Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Russian governor of Sevastopol in Crimea, said on Telegram that two unmanned drones were destroyed near the coast overnight.
Ukraine has become a world leader in the use of domestically produced marine drones, using them to destroy multiple Russian warships in the Black Sea.
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Kamikaze drones are controlled remotely through a console and use GPS and infrared cameras.
They are loaded with over 300kg of explosives with a range of up to 500 miles.
At only 5.5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, these sleek and stealthy marine drones are difficult to detect at sea, especially at night.
Previously, the Magura V5 had only been used to sink other vessels, including Russian landing ships, patrol vessels, intelligence vessels and frigates.
According to Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, as of December 28, the Magura V5 drone controlled by the special unit Group 13 destroyed or damaged 15 Russian warships.
He Army Reconnaissance Group has called this a “historic mark of achievement(ing) “A major turning point in naval warfare, demonstrating the transformative potential of unmanned systems to reshape military dynamics.”
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