Deep Sky Battle Over Crimea: FPV Drones from Sea Unmanned Vehicles Thwart Ukrainian Night Attack
On the night of May 2, a large-scale and remarkably tactical operation took place in the temporarily occupied Crimea, once again demonstrating the high technical skill and ingenuity of Ukrainian military personnel. As a result of the operation, several military targets on the peninsula were destroyed, including tactical airbases and infrastructure that enable the occupiers to carry out missile and aviation strikes against Ukrainian positions. According to information provided by Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, during a telethon, the operation was organized using a quite complex yet effective scheme. He explained that Ukrainian drones were conceived as "carrier platforms" — so-called sea unmanned vehicles used to deliver lightweight and fast FPV drones (First Person View — drones with cameras for semi-immersed pilot flight). These drones were launched from maritime platforms serving as launch pads for miniaturized devices that purposefully targeted land-based objectives. “After a long preparation period, our operators employed a tactical move that caused embarrassment and surprise among the Russian occupiers. According to our source, Sevastopol’s 'governor' — the authorized person named Razvozhaev — officially confirmed that the attack occurred and took place on the occupied peninsula. He acknowledged the use of sea drones by our forces, emphasizing that Ukrainian innovative platforms were a crucial element in this operation,” Bratchuk emphasized. He also highlighted an interesting detail: that FPV drones served as the launching link for so-called “midge” drones — lightweight unmanned systems capable of executing pinpoint strikes on military objects and railway or aviation infrastructure. These systems allowed Ukrainian forces to cause significant destruction and, importantly, make targets highly vulnerable and susceptible to subsequent attacks. What preceded this night operation? In the early hours of May 2, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on Crimea. Russian officials claimed that their air defense systems allegedly shot down over 120 unmanned aerial vehicles attempting to penetrate their air base rear and military infrastructure. Ukrainian sources note that this success resulted not only from the diligent work of their drone specialists but also from the latest tactical developments utilized by Ukrainian military personnel during combat. They add that the use of sea carrier drones allows minimizing risks for pilots while increasing attack effectiveness. Although Russia claimed to have actively countered — reportedly destroyed 121 Ukrainian drones — the fact remains indisputable: the night attack was a demonstration of how advanced and well-planned modern Ukrainian sabotage and defense tactics are. Videos circulating online show aftermaths of destruction at one of the airfields — wreckage of equipment destroyed under control, as well as targeted objects, indicating the precise and high-tech nature of this operation. Experts emphasize that this success confirms Ukraine’s strategic advantage in adopting cutting-edge technologies and tactical schemes. This is not the first similar operation but undoubtedly another significant proof that modern drone systems are widely used in military applications and succeed in striking the enemy even in very challenging conditions. Undoubtedly, this night attack will leave a mark on the tactics and strategies of combat on the peninsula, continuing to showcase the high level of innovative military thinking of Ukrainian forces and their capacity to effectively resist the enemy. At the same time, the situation underscores the importance of further developing and strengthening unmanned systems within Ukraine’s defense, ensuring ongoing security and sovereignty in the complex conditions of warfare.