Watch: Ukrainian Drones Strike $60 Million Russian Spy Ship Near Novorossiysk

Ukraine has carried out a successful long-range drone attack on a Russian intelligence ship in the eastern Black Sea, severely damaging its electronic systems, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence reports.

The attack targeted a multipurpose Russian vessel operating in Novorossiysk Bay, the current base for Russia’s Black Sea fleet. Video footage of the strike shows drones hitting the ship’s antennas and electronic equipment directly, leaving its electronic warfare systems destroyed and the vessel disabled.

The vessel is believed to be the Spasatel Demidov, a 240-foot (73-meter) MPSV07-class ship built in 2015. Ukraine reports the ship was actively operating radio surveillance equipment and patrolling the bay at the time of the strike.

These ships are designed for seabed inspections and are equipped with diving systems, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), side-scan sonar, and electronic intelligence tools, allowing them to conduct underwater reconnaissance and spy operations.

The warriors from the @DI_Ukraine struck a russian Black Sea Fleet ship near Novorossiysk. It is Project MPSV07 multifunctional vessel worth $60 million, that was commissioned in 2015. pic.twitter.com/5nV0okaxBN

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 11, 2025

The drone reportedly flew over 400 km (around 250 miles) from the front lines, and if it avoided Crimea, it may have traveled more than 600 km (370 miles) to reach its target. Ukraine valued the damaged vessel at more than $60 million (£45 million).

Ukraine reports that there are four ships in the Project MPSV07 class actively deployed in the Black Sea region, though data indicates five have been commissioned and a sixth is under construction. Each ship weighs approximately 2,500 gross tons.

Ukrainian forces previously claimed to have damaged two radar stations in Crimea, a harbor tug in Sevastopol, and a missile boat in the Sea of Azov. Media reports suggest that Ukraine has either destroyed or disabled about a third of Russia’s Black Sea fleet since the start of the war.

In response to Ukraine’s long-distance maritime strikes, Russia has reportedly moved several of its vessels to Novorossiysk Bay to place them further from the front lines.

Reference: kyivpost

Source: Maritime Shipping News