The Ukrainian Navy has released footage showing a Bayraktar TB2 drone destroying two Russian vessels in the Black Sea, marking the aircraft’s return to strike operations after a prolonged absence from the battlefield.
Analysts believe the vessels struck were Russian-operated unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), although Kyiv has not officially confirmed either the type of target or the aircraft used.
The Bayraktar TB2 gained widespread recognition during the early months of the war for its effectiveness against Russian forces, but its offensive use declined significantly after Russia strengthened its air defense and electronic warfare capabilities.
Since then, the drone has been employed primarily for reconnaissance and target designation missions, only occasionally reappearing in strike operations.
The released footage shows what experts identify as the characteristic interface of the TB2‘s electro-optical system, along with the use of laser-guided MAM family munitions developed by the Turkish company Roketsan.
According to the Ukrainian Navy, three Russian vessels were destroyed during the operation, although the footage clearly confirms only two strikes.
The TB2‘s reappearance comes as Ukraine continues to maintain a relative advantage in the Black Sea through the intensive use of naval drones.
The weakening of part of Russia’s air defense network in the region may also have created the conditions for the Bayraktar to resume strike missions against opportunistic maritime targets.
Bayraktar lives! The Ukrainian Navy has released footage showing the destruction of a Russian unmanned surface vessel by a drone whose interface looks like that used by the Bayraktar TB2.
According to the Navy, a total of three Russian unmanned surface vessels were destroyed in… https://t.co/4KaJHJgxB9 pic.twitter.com/GuVOyaxhrR
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) June 24, 2026
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Photos and video: Ukraine MoD / X @bayraktar_llove. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
