In an exclusive interview with Howard Altman for The War Zone, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, revealed new details about the Black Sea's May 2, 2025 operation.

"This is a historic moment," Budanov said.

According to him, members of DIU's special unit, Group 13, destroyed two russian Su-30 fighter jets using AIM-9 missiles launched from Magura-7 unmanned naval platforms.

A civilian vessel in the Black Sea rescued the crew of the first russian Su-30. The second aircraft was reportedly shot down over occupied Crimea, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.

"We're using several missile types on our Magura-7 drones, but the best performance so far has come from the AIM-9," Budanov explained.

The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a U.S.-made, infrared-guided, air-to-air missile system.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the successful downing of both russian jets during his evening address on May 3, 2025.

"I'm grateful to our fighters who are expanding Ukraine's long-range capabilities — in the sky and at sea," he said. "The downing of a russian military aircraft from a naval drone was brilliant. It proves Ukrainian capabilities. And our military carried out an exact strike against enemy targets in Crimea. One more, a second russian aircraft downed in a single day."

Read more about this landmark Black Sea operation here.