Ukraine says a sea drone attacked and sank a Russian drone boat
Ukraine's navy said a Sargan 3000 uncrewed surface vessel destroyed a Russian unmanned boat in the Black Sea. The navy described the engagement as the first naval battle between unmanned boats. The navy said units of Ukraine's military intelligence detected the target. It said the Sargan 3000 closed on it with a 12.7-millimeter Protector remote weapon station. Video released with the statement shows the Ukrainian boat firing and the Russian craft sinking.
Verified 7:20 AM PDT · 3 original sources
The same class of vessel entered service with Ukraine's navy in 2026 and sank the Russian border patrol ship Izumrud near Novorossiysk in July. Independent defence outlets reported the new engagement. They noted that drone boats have become one of Ukraine's most effective weapons against Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
The navy gave no date, time or location for the encounter. The Russian defence ministry has not acknowledged it.
The claim rests on Ukraine's navy and on video released by the same source. Russia has not confirmed the loss. Observers identifying the sunken craft as an Orca-type vessel are working from open imagery rather than a recovered hull. No casualty figures have been published, and neither side has said whether either boat had crew aboard at the moment of contact.
Watch for a Russian acknowledgement or imagery of the loss. Also watch whether armed drone boats start fighting each other, rather than running down unarmed craft. A second engagement between armed vessels would show that both fleets now watch for small uncrewed targets at sea.
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