Footage of a Russian helicopter (type unknown) engaging and destroying a Ukrainian naval drone in the Black Sea. Most Ukrainian naval assets were docked or destroyed early in the war, forcing Ukraine to rely on air and naval drones and missiles to execute its naval strategy. With these limited resources, Ukraine has managed to neutralize the Russian Black Sea Fleet and to deny the Russians naval dominance on that body of water. Their objectives are to isolate Russian assets in Crimea in or to facilitate the eventual recapture of the peninsula. As a key offensive platform, naval drones have played a critical role for Ukraine, though they are susceptible to fire from air and surface assets. To counter the Russian air threat, Ukraine has fitted some naval drones with surface to air missiles and recently some drones have taken shots at Russian helicopters. That was not the case in this video, and this drone was lost to gunfire from the Russian helo.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing is preparing for the 2024 season of sailing on Galveston Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico. You can support the mission and next year's sailing season at Tri-Sail.Org.