Ukraine says it destroyed Russian fighter jet with sea drone for the first time
Ukraine destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone, Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency announced on Saturday, in what it said was the world's first downing of a combat plane by a maritime drone.Its statement on social media said the fighter jet had been shot down by a military intelligence unit called Group 13 on Friday over waters near Novorossiisk, a major Russian port city on the Black Sea.advertisementOutmanned and outgunned by its larger, wealthier Russian adversary, Ukraine has turned to drone warfare in the air and at sea as a way to fight back through more than three years of full-scale war.
Ukraine's seaborne drones, which are much cheaper and smaller than conventional ships, have wrought havoc on Russia's Black Sea fleet.Ukraine has previously said it shot down a Russian military helicopter in December 2024 using a missile fired from the same type of seaborne drone.The Russian Defence Ministry did not comment on the Ukrainian claim, but an authoritative Russian blogger believed to be close to the ministry said the jet had been shot down."Yesterday towards evening, an Su-30 naval aviation fighter jet was shot down by the Ukrainian side 50 kilometres west of Novorossiisk. This was done from an uncrewed boat with an R-73 SAM (surface-to-air missile)," the blogger, who goes by the name Rybar, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.advertisement"The pilots ejected and were picked up by civilian sailors. Both are alive, and to hell with the plane."The mayor of Novorossiisk declared a state of emergency on Saturday after local authorities said a Ukrainian drone attack had damaged a grain terminal and several residential buildings, injuring five people.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
New War In Asia Pacific? Japan ‘DARES' China, North Korea, Flexes Military Might From Mount Fuji
Russian Troops Seize Key Highway Near Sumy As Ukraine Struggles To Hold The Line | Watch Russian troops have reportedly seized part of a key highway near Yunakovka in Ukraine's Sumy region, limiting Kyiv's ability to retake earlier lost positions. Military expert Andrey Marochko said the captured stretch of road, once used by Ukrainian forces for resupply, is now under Russian fire control. Ongoing clashes in the area have intensified as Moscow pushes for strategic gains. Marochko noted Russian forces had previously entered Yunakovka for reconnaissance, indicating a planned advance. The development may mark a deeper push into northern Ukraine as part of Russia's broader campaign.#russia #ukraine #sumy #putin #ukraine #zelensky 3.4K views | 1 day ago
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘China is the enemy': Leaked Russian intelligence reveals Kremlin's actual view of Beijing; accuses it of espionage
File photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Picture credit: AP) Despite warm public rhetoric, a confidential document from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) reveals deep suspicion of China, labelling it a serious espionage threat to Russian national security and sees it as 'the enemy. ' As per a report by The New York Times, an undisclosed FSB intelligence unit has warned of increased Chinese efforts to spy on Russia's military, steal sensitive technology, and recruit Russian experts, even as Moscow publicly hails its partnership with Beijing as a 'strategic alliance.' The FSB's internal eight-page memo, reviewed and verified by six Western intelligence agencies, outlines how China is allegedly targeting Russian scientists, military operations in Ukraine, and Arctic development through covert means. It was reportedly authored in late 2023 or early 2024 and obtained by the hacker group Ares Leaks. Although the precise origin remains unclear, experts cited by The New York Times believe the document appears authentic and sheds rare light on Russia's counterespionage strategy toward an ostensible ally. 'China is the enemy,' intelligence officers from the FSB's 7th Service, a unit focused on Asian espionage, state in the memo, which sharply contrasts with the public narrative of Russia-China unity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo According to the document, the FSB launched a new counterintelligence program codenamed Entente-4 just days before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, aiming to block Chinese infiltration while avoiding diplomatic fallout. The memo warns officers not to publicly refer to China as a threat, showing the tightrope Russia walks in managing its dependency on Beijing. The FSB claims China has sought to exploit Russia's wartime focus to recruit disillusioned military experts, particularly those working on now-defunct projects like the Soviet-era ekranoplan . 'Priority recruitment is given to former employees…experiencing financial difficulties,' the memo reportedly says. As per the report, Chinese intelligence has targeted Russians with Chinese spouses, used WeChat for surveillance, and deployed scientists and businesspeople to gather intelligence under the guise of academic or commercial cooperation. Though Russia depends on China for oil exports, technology, and sanctions-busting trade, the document says Beijing may be eyeing long-term strategic gains, including territorial claims in the Russian Far East. The FSB accuses Chinese researchers of promoting historical ties to areas like Vladivostok, publishing maps with ancient Chinese names, and searching for "ancient Chinese peoples" in Russian territory. The memo also warns of Beijing's growing soft-power strategy in Central Asia and spying activities in the Arctic. It claims Chinese firms and universities are being used as covers to study Russia's Arctic projects and influence local policy. Still, the FSB advises caution: any moves against China require high-level clearance to avoid damaging bilateral relations. 'Jeopardising the support of China would be worse,' the memo concludes. The document also reveals that Russia is not merely defending itself from Chinese espionage but is attempting to influence it. The FSB states that Russian counterintelligence has been instructed to deliberately feed China's agents with positive information about Russian operations in Ukraine. This suggests a strategic effort by Moscow to manage Beijing's internal assessment of the war, especially as China closely watches Russia's performance against Western weapons. The goal appears to be to reassure China of Russia's strength and maintain its support, despite private fears of Chinese exploitation. According to Carnegie analyst Alexander Gabuev, as cited by the New York Times, 'Putin believes that he can go much deeper into this Chinese embrace, and it's not risk-free, but it is worth it,' suggesting that Moscow sees the benefits of the relationship outweighing its espionage concerns.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
I-STAR: India's eyes in the sky? IAF set to get Rs 10,000 crore indigenous spy planes
IAF to get Rs 10,000 crore indigenous I-STAR spy planes to help in precision strikes against enemy ground targets India's Defence Ministry is set to review a Rs 10,000 crore project. This project aims to acquire three advanced spy planes. These planes will enhance the Indian Air Force's surveillance capabilities. They will provide detailed air-to-ground intelligence. This will enable precision strikes on enemy targets. The ISTAR system will be indigenously developed by DRDO. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads High-tech eyes in the sky with indigenous systems Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Precision strikes from afar, round-the-clock The Indian Air Force is set to receive a major capability boost with the government preparing to clear a Rs 10,000 crore project to acquire cutting-edge I-STAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) high-altitude spy planes will allow the IAF to conduct pinpoint strikes on critical enemy targets such as radar sites, mobile air defence units, and command posts — even from stand-off told ANI that the Defence Ministry is expected to take up the proposal later this month at a high-level meeting, amid the Indian military's ongoing Operation Sindoor against I-STAR project involves procuring three advanced aircraft — likely from international aviation giants like Boeing or Bombardier — which will then be fitted with fully indigenous sensor and electronic systems. These onboard surveillance and targeting systems have already been developed and tested by DRDO's Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS).The Indian-built systems will provide multi-spectral surveillance, enabling forces to detect, locate and track enemy assets with precision — day or night, even in complex terrain. Officials said the integration work would be swift since the tech has already been operational, the aircraft will offer a dynamic, real-time picture of the battlefield, making India one of the few countries in the world with such strategic air-to-ground surveillance and strike coordination capabilities. Only a handful of nations — including the United States, United Kingdom, and Israel — currently operate such I-STAR system combines both airborne and ground-based components, and is designed to operate from stand-off ranges at high altitudes. Its job is to assist the IAF in identifying and engaging high-value ground targets without crossing into hostile airspace — an increasingly critical requirement in modern the ability to carry out intelligence gathering, real-time surveillance, targeting, and reconnaissance (ISR), the aircraft will allow India to limit the scale of conflict while neutralizing threats with surgical said this system will not only strengthen India's deterrence capability, but also help in swift retaliation in conflict scenarios, enhancing national security preparedness across borders.
