Russian drone attack on Ukrainian naval unit
For the first time in the chronology of the war in Ukraine, the Kiev Navy was attacked and heavily hit by a Russian surface drone (similar to the Ukrainian Magura V) on 28 August 2025. The incident occurred at night in the delta of the Danube estuary. An analysis identifies this location around 30 kilometres upstream (around 3 kilometres west of Wylkowe) on the Ukrainian side of the Danube - the NATO border with Romania runs just a few metres away in the middle of the river!
AGI "Simferopol", drone camera. Photo: Russian media
The medium-sized reconnaissance ship "Simferopol" (Project Laguna, 55 metres, 1,200 tonnes), built in Kiev according to the plans of the trawler type 502EM and only commissioned in 2021, was supposedly safely anchored there, probably without any further protective measures, when it was attacked and severely damaged. Although the majority of the up to 30 crew members - some injured - were brought to safety, two were killed and others are missing. According to Russian reports, the "Simferopol" sank, which Ukraine denies.
The attack was recorded by the drone camera and also observed by a flying Russian drone over Ukrainian coastal territory; the video footage was posted online. The Russian Navy had practised these procedures during the major global manoeuvre "July Storm" immediately before the cancelled Navy Day parade (Saint Petersburg) at the end of July.
Russian video of the drones:
Ukrainian drone attack in the Sea of Azov
The Russian attack was preceded by a Ukrainian drone attack on a Buyan-M FK corvette in the Sea of Azov. This attack was coordinated with a first drone against the sensors and a second drone directly against the superstructure. This is said to have damaged the ship and forced it to withdraw from its patrol mission, or possibly even to abort a Kalibr attack against Ukraine.
Small combat corvette "Zeleniy Dol" of the Buyan-M class. Photo: Michael Nitz
Video of the FPV drones (first person view) from suchomimus:
The following video shows how a Kalibr rocket launch works:
P-8A Poseidon with deployed sensor. Photo: telegram/bomber_fighter (rus)
Maritime surveillance Black Sea
The day before, a US Navy P-8A Poseidon coming from Sicily (NAS Sigonella) and equipped with the AN/APS-154 advanced airborne sensor had flown a reconnaissance mission across the Black Sea lasting several hours. For the first time, it was tracked down by a Russian Sukhoi interceptor, accompanied and documented with the sensor folded down.
Consequences
With all the unanswered questions about the use of this Russian drone right next to the border with NATO partners, far in the western part of the Black Sea, some staffs will have to reorient themselves with regard to maritime surveillance, the protection of civilian freight traffic and swarm attacks - not only in the Black Sea.
P-8A Poseidon with AAS AN/APS154. Photo: x/archer83able
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