Dramatic world-first moment game-changing new Ukrainian sea drone blows £12m Putin Mi-8 attack helicopter out of the sky
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DRAMATIC footage shows the moment Ukraine claimed the historic downing of a Russian M-8 military helicopter off the coast of occupied Crimea by a missile-firing sea drone. Kyiv's military intelligence announced the strike in the Black Sea with a Magura V5 and included a clip of the historic moment.
![[A Magura V5 Ukrainian sea drone downed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter near Cape Tarkhankut in Putin-occupied Crimea in a world-first]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/missile-firing-magura-v5-ukrainian-960725275.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
In the black-and-white footage taken from the sea drone, bursts of water can be seen around the drone launching into the air as Vladimir Putin's chopper attacked. Viewers can quickly spot the Russian aircraft in the top right-hand corner of the video nearing the reticle of the drone's scope before it disappears briefly from view.
![[Footage released by Ukrainian intelligence captured the moment Putin's chopper was downed by the sea drone]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/missile-firing-magura-v5-ukrainian-960725277_f4f461.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Another angle then shows the chopper in the drone's line of sight with a red box marking out the Russian target. Missiles can then be seen blasting through the sky before making impact with the Mi-8 which plummeted into the sea. The Mi-8 is reported to cost up to $15 million (£12 million) and has previously been used by Russia in the conflict with Ukraine to transport weapons and personnel.
![[It marks the first time a naval drone has successfully hit an aerial target]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/missile-firing-magura-v5-ukrainian-960725247.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It is also equipped with precision bombing capabilities and can be used to provide fire support to forces on the ground. Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) ended the video of the successful attack with a Happy New Year message. A statement confirmed: "On December 31, 2024, soldiers of the GUR special unit Group 13 of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine for the first time in history hit an air target using a Magura V5 sea drone equipped with missile weapons.
![[The footage captured the moment contact was made with the chopper]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ef0dbe65-7a3a-44e2-9a72-141b87726114.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
