Ukraine Strikes Russia's 'Boyko Towers' in Black Sea: Video
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Ukrainian drones have struck and reportedly damaged Russian-controlled gas production platforms and a radar system in the Black Sea, military footage released by the Ukrainian Navy and statements from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) showed.
Ukrainian officials said the operation used both aerial and maritime drones to target platforms near Crimea, which have been occupied by Russia since 2015.
Videos of the strikes have circulated widely, but independent verification of the precise damage remains unavailable. Russian authorities have not publicly responded to the reported attack.
This image from April 11, 2024, shows the Ukrainian naval drone Magura which Kyiv said had destroyed a Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet on May 2, 2025.
This image from April 11, 2024, shows the Ukrainian naval drone Magura which Kyiv said had destroyed a Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet on May 2, 2025.Why It Matters
The strikes on the Black Sea platforms mark an intensification of Ukraine's use of unmanned systems in the maritime domain, and target infrastructure Russia uses for surveillance and logistics.
The action follows a pattern of increasing drone warfare around Crimea and the Black Sea since 2022, events that have shifted regional power balances and threatened Russian military capabilities, forcing its Black Sea fleet to retreat deeper inside Russian waters.
The ongoing contest over this area has direct implications for shipping, energy security, and NATO's eastern flank, with the U.S. and its allies closely monitoring the area as supply disruptions and regional instability could weigh on international markets.
What To Know
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced on May 19, 2025, that a special operation using both aerial and naval drones destroyed a Russian "Neva" radar system and supply warehouse on gas production platforms in the Black Sea near the Crimean coast. The mission was conducted by the SBU's 13th Main Directorate for Military Counter-Intelligence, which described the operation as using two types of drones "in tandem".
The SBU said the platforms were being used by Russian forces for monitoring airborne and sea activity, as well as for storing supplies and housing personnel. The security service identified the destroyed radar as crucial to Russia's regional surveillance capabilities.
The Ukrainian Navy published video showing what appeared to be Ukrainian sea drones, also known as "Sea Baby," approaching the platforms, with large explosions following and at least one platform catching fire.
Another segment of the footage appeared to show an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) taking off from a sea drone before apparently exploding on the platform. Ukrainian military sources claim these drones can carry nearly one ton of explosives over distances up to 621 miles.
Ukraine has prioritized unmanned naval systems in its campaign against Russian forces in the Black Sea. The SBU has previously used naval and aerial drones in attacks on the Kerch Bridge and Russian warships.
By late 2024, Ukrainian officials claimed to have destroyed or disabled roughly one-third of Russia's Black Sea Fleet with such tactics, employing Sea Baby and Magura drones.
What People Are Saying
Ukrainian Navy statement, Official Facebook page, May 2025: "The hunt for the enemy in the Black Sea continues. Navy naval drones carried out targeted strikes on Russian targets. Enemy surveillance systems located on captured gas platforms off the coast of temporarily occupied Crimea were destroyed. The occupiers will not remain on our territory—we will get them everywhere."
What Happens Next
As of May 2025, Ukrainian officials have indicated that operations using naval and aerial drones in the Black Sea will continue, with a stated goal of eliminating Russian military infrastructure from occupied offshore platforms and denying Russia surveillance capability. Analysts suggest further strikes could follow, and observers await any official military and diplomatic responses from Moscow.
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