KYIV, Aug 29, 2025 (Agencies): A rare Russian maritime attack has sunk a Ukrainian reconnaissance vessel in the Danube River delta, killing at least two servicemen and leaving several others missing, Ukraine’s navy confirmed on Friday.
Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said the strike targeted the Simferopol, a Laguna-class reconnaissance ship, in what is believed to be Russia’s first successful use of a naval drone against Ukraine. “We are still searching for several soldiers,” Pletenchuk told reporters, adding that some crew members were also wounded.
Russia’s Defence Ministry released black-and-white footage on Thursday showing a large explosion on the water, claiming it had sunk the vessel with an uncrewed surface drone. Ukraine’s admission of the loss marks a rare acknowledgment from both sides in the ongoing conflict, as military setbacks are seldom confirmed.
The Simferopol had been one of Ukraine’s key reconnaissance assets, designed for radio-electronic intelligence operations. Its destruction comes amid heightened tensions in the Black Sea region, where both Kyiv and Moscow have increasingly turned to drone warfare to offset conventional naval disadvantages.
Ukraine has effectively used naval drones since 2022, forcing Russia to relocate much of its fleet from the western Black Sea. But Moscow’s success in this latest strike demonstrates a new capability, underscoring the growing role of unmanned systems in modern maritime warfare.
The attack also raised concerns for navigation in the Danube corridor, a critical route for Ukrainian grain exports, which Kyiv has sought to keep open despite Russia’s blockade.
Search and rescue operations for missing sailors continue, while officials assess the broader implications of the loss for Ukraine’s already limited naval capacity.