Ukraine’s security forces obliterated a sophisticated Russian radar system and military supply depots on strategic gas platforms in the Black Sea, striking a significant blow to Moscow’s regional surveillance capabilities.
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine’s Security Service successfully destroyed a Russian Neva radar system and military supplies on gas production platforms in the Black Sea using coordinated drone strikes
- The operation employed both surface and aerial drones working in tandem, demonstrating Ukraine’s growing maritime combat capabilities
- The Neva-B radar system, capable of tracking up to 200 targets with a detection range of 45 km, was among the destroyed Russian assets
- The strike occurred following what Ukraine described as Russia’s most intensive drone assault of the three-year conflict
- Ukraine continues to maintain tactical advantages in the Black Sea through its innovative use of naval drone technology
Strategic Drone Strike Eliminates Key Russian Surveillance Assets
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) executed a precision strike against Russian military infrastructure on gas production platforms in the Black Sea, successfully destroying a sophisticated Neva radar system and military supply warehouses. The operation, carried out by the SBU’s 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence, employed both naval and aerial drones working in coordinated tandem to achieve maximum effectiveness. Video documentation released by Ukrainian authorities shows sequential drone impacts targeting the Russian-occupied platform’s radar installation followed by strikes against military supply storage facilities.
The destroyed Neva-B radar represents a significant loss for Russian forces in the region. Operating in the Ka-band frequency with a 2.5-meter antenna, the system could simultaneously track up to 200 targets at distances up to 45 kilometers. This radar provided critical surveillance capabilities for Russian operations, monitoring both air and sea approaches throughout the northwestern Black Sea region. Its destruction creates a substantial gap in Russia’s ability to detect and counter Ukrainian maritime activities.
⚡️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
Ukraine’s Evolving Maritime Drone Capabilities
The successful attack highlights Ukraine’s growing proficiency with naval drone warfare, which has become a critical aspect of its Black Sea strategy. Ukrainian forces have developed increasingly sophisticated drone systems capable of both surveillance and offensive operations. The attack likely involved FPV-type marine drones with objective control capabilities from surface vehicles, demonstrating significant technical advancement. These systems allow Ukraine to project power despite lacking traditional naval forces comparable to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
“We once again reminded the enemy that no Russian trash has a place in the Black Sea,” stated the Security Service of Ukraine following the operation.
The platforms targeted in this operation, known as the “Boyko towers,” were Ukrainian offshore drilling rigs seized by Russia. Moscow has increasingly militarized these civilian structures, converting them into strategic monitoring posts equipped with advanced radar and electronic surveillance equipment. Ukrainian officials have consistently maintained that Russia’s military use of these platforms makes them legitimate military targets under international law, despite their original civilian purpose.
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A Grok vs Drone Reality🧵https://t.co/nZIDEyA9nu
— Trent Telenko (@TrentTelenko) May 6, 2025
Escalating Drone Warfare in the Black Sea Region
This attack follows what Ukrainian officials described as the largest Russian drone assault of the entire conflict. Ukraine’s innovative use of naval drones has created significant challenges for Russian naval operations. Earlier this month, Ukraine claimed to have shot down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet over the Black Sea using a special configuration of the Magura-7 naval drone equipped with AIM-9M missiles, further demonstrating their increasingly sophisticated maritime capabilities.
“Within one special operation, SBU specialists used two types of drones that demonstrated the effectiveness of paired work,” stated The SBU, highlighting their tactical innovation.
The Black Sea remains a crucial theater in the conflict, particularly since Russia undermined a U.S.-backed maritime truce in March. The SBU claims to have successfully attacked 11 Russian warships and the strategically vital Crimean Bridge using drone technology. While these claims haven’t been independently verified, satellite imagery and Russian defensive measures suggest Ukraine’s maritime drone operations are having a substantial impact on Russia’s naval posture throughout the region.
“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,” SBU officials declared following the operation.
