jet ski powered drone
Six jet ski-powered underwater drones were sufficient to bring down a Russian-guided missile ship last week, as revealed in a rare interview with the covert Ukrainian unit responsible for the operation. The tiny Russian warship, the Ivanovets, was hit multiple times on its hull, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence at the time, before being sunk by drones in an inlet on the Crimean Peninsula that is under Russian occupation. Ten “MAGURA” drones were used in the attack, according to one of the drone pilots who spoke with CNN. Six of them hit and eventually sank the Russian warship, causing Russia’s Black Sea fleet to suffer yet another humiliating setback.
The pilot claimed that although the “MAGURA” drones are small, powered by jet skis, they have a long range of about 800 kilometers (almost 500 miles), allowing his unit the ability to launch the drones from across vast stretches of Ukraine’s coastline for missions against Crimean targets. The pilot, known by the call sign “13,” is a member of a specialized unit within the Defense Intelligence Agency (GUR) of Ukraine. This unit has been connected to several attacks on Crimea and even inside Russia, frequently employing drones to launch strikes that are far beyond the reach of Ukraine’s conventional armaments.
Demands for increased drone usage
To level the playing field with Russia, Kyiv is increasingly using drones; in recent weeks, several drone attacks have targeted important targets in Russia. Due to a drone attack on a Russian oil terminal located roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Saint Petersburg, Moscow’s oil and gas infrastructure is now in danger. In late January, Ukraine’s chief of defense intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, told CNN that Russians “started waking up at night during explosions.” “They witness the true face of conflict.” According to the pilot, the “MAGURA” drones are powered by jet skis and have a range of approximately 800 kilometers, or roughly 500 miles. They are only a few meters long.
According to the pilot, the “MAGURA” drones are powered by jet skis and have a range of approximately 800 kilometers, or roughly 500 miles. They are only a few meters long. To preserve the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and counter Russia’s material advantage in weapons and ammunition, Ukraine’s top general has also advocated for the increased use of drones on the battlefield. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, stated in a CNN opinion piece last week that “these unmanned systems, such as drones, along with other types of advanced weapons, that provide the best way for Ukraine to avoid being drawn into a positional war, where we do not possess the advantage.”
“To put it briefly, this entails completely rethinking how the battlefield operates and doing away with antiquated, stereotyped ideas,” he continued. Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and additional losses resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the country no longer possesses a functional Black Sea navy. However, the Ivanovets’ sinking represents yet another triumph for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The attack on the Moskva in April 2022 was the most prominent of its strikes, forcing Russia to alter how it conducts business near areas under Ukrainian control.
‘Jewellers work’
The pilot claimed that although the drones’ impact is remarkable, their operation is delicate. He told CNN, “The most important thing is to feel the drone.” Squeezing it too hard could cause you to lose control of the drone. It reminds me of a jeweler’s work, I think. The drones can be remotely controlled through a Starlink connection, and they can be pre-programmed for lengthy flights across the Black Sea. According to him, a pilot continuously monitors the drone’s path, with the last run into the targets frequently being manually controlled. He went on, “There is no need to increase the drone’s 250kg (551lb) payload to 300kg.” The effectiveness of the drones has been demonstrated even against some of the toughest ships in Moscow’s Black Sea fleet. Six drones were fired at the Russian corvette Ivanovets by the drone pilots of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Unit’s Group 13 Unit, sinking the warship. Six drones piloted by Ukrainians struck the Russian warship, causing it to capsize. The drones are enormous, standing nearly six meters tall. However, once afloat, they present a formidable foe to Russian defence forces.
“It is quite challenging to spot them, particularly in open waters. Because of the choppy sea, this size makes it difficult to control, but it also makes it much more difficult for the enemy to hit us, the speaker said. The pilot claimed that because Russia’s warships were not built with drones in mind, targets like the IVAN were forced to use cannons that were more appropriate for engaging in combat with other ships. As the drones close in on the Ivanovets, footage from the attack shows bullets striking the water. The bombs coming in are too strong for the ammunition to stop. which, during a drone demonstration on the Black Sea, made quick, precise turns while functioning automatically. It was the same model as the ones used against the Ivanovets. According to the pilot, it is designed to be agile.
