Ukraine’s devastating drone attack annihilated a crucial Russian radar system and military supply depots on a gas platform in the Black Sea, marking a bold response to Russia’s largest-ever drone assault on Ukrainian territory.
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) successfully targeted and destroyed a Russian Neva radar system and military warehouses on gas production platforms in the Black Sea using surface and aerial drones
- The operation demonstrated Ukraine’s sophisticated drone capabilities, utilizing two drone types working in tandem to maximize effectiveness
- This strike came in direct response to what Ukraine described as Russia’s most massive drone assault since the war began
- The attack targeted Russian military infrastructure on Ukrainian offshore drilling rigs known as the “Boyko towers” that Russia had seized and weaponized
- Ukraine continues to maintain a tactical advantage in Black Sea operations through its strategic use of naval drone technology
Ukraine’s Strategic Response to Russian Aggression
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck back against Russian military assets in the Black Sea following what Ukrainian officials described as Russia’s largest drone assault of the war. The Ukrainian operation successfully targeted a gas production platform that Russian forces had militarized with radar equipment and supply depots. The precision strike demonstrated Ukraine’s growing capability to project power into contested waters despite Russia’s continued attempts to dominate the region. Video evidence released by Ukrainian authorities shows drones approaching and detonating against Russian infrastructure, with clear visual confirmation of significant damage inflicted on the targeted facilities.
“We once again reminded the enemy that no Russian trash has a place in the Black Sea,” stated the Security Service of Ukraine in their official announcement of the operation.
⚡️Security Service of Ukraine destroyed a Russian radar and warehouses on gas production platforms in the Black Sea with surface and air drones.
Defenders from the 13th Main Directorate of the Military Counterintelligence Department of the SSU conducted a combined special… pic.twitter.com/5s9psNjrQp
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 19, 2025
Advanced Drone Tactics Demonstrate Ukraine’s Military Evolution
The operation showcased Ukraine’s increasingly sophisticated approach to asymmetric warfare, utilizing both surface and aerial drones working in coordinated tandem. Ukrainian forces targeted the Neva-B radar system, a sophisticated piece of Russian military technology capable of tracking up to 200 targets simultaneously across a range of 45 kilometers. The radar, which featured a 2.5-meter-long antenna and operated in the Ka-band frequency range, represented a significant threat to Ukrainian operations in the region. Its destruction marks a major tactical victory for Ukrainian forces seeking to degrade Russian surveillance capabilities in the strategically vital Black Sea area.
“Within one special operation, SBU specialists used two types of drones that demonstrated the effectiveness of paired work,” explained The SBU in their official statement about the mission.
The operation was meticulously executed by the 13th Main Directorate of the Military Counterintelligence Department of the Security Service of Ukraine. Military analysts note that the attack likely involved specialized FPV (first-person view) marine drones with remote visual control capabilities that allowed operators to maintain precision targeting throughout the mission. Ukraine currently maintains a significant tactical advantage in Black Sea operations due to its innovative deployment of naval drone technologies for both reconnaissance and offensive operations against Russian naval assets.
Strategic Impact on Black Sea Control
This latest strike adds to Ukraine’s growing list of successful operations against Russian naval and military assets in the Black Sea region. Ukrainian forces have previously claimed attacks on 11 Russian warships and the strategic Crimean Bridge using similar drone warfare tactics. These operations have systematically degraded Russia’s ability to project naval power throughout the region and secure its supply lines. The targeted platforms, known as the “Boyko towers,” were originally Ukrainian offshore drilling rigs seized by Russia and subsequently converted into military installations housing radar systems and supply depots critical to Russian operations.
“The Security Service of Ukraine continues to develop and implement unique special operations to clear the Black Sea from Russian invaders, their military equipment and other equipment,” declared the SBU in their statement following the successful operation.
The Black Sea remains a critical theater of operations following Russia’s undermining of a US-backed maritime truce in March. Ukraine’s drone innovations have led to several notable successes, including the destruction of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet earlier this month using a modified Magura-7 naval drone equipped with AIM-9M missiles. While the SBU’s claims regarding this latest operation have not been independently verified by international observers, the video evidence and consistent pattern of successful maritime operations lend credibility to Ukrainian reports of their continued effectiveness against Russian naval power in the region.
