Ukraine makes military history with first drone strike on Russian missile corvette

Ukraine reached a milestone in modern warfare for the first time by deploying drones to successfully strike a Russian “Buyan-M” missile corvette in the Azov Sea, military intelligence says.

The seacraft was capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles.

Defense Express, called the attack “the first successful strike on a ship by an FPV [first-person view] drone in history.”

“And it was carried out at a range of over 350 km — another achievement for the Ukrainian Defense Forces, while also highlighting a critical vulnerability of the Buyan-M corvettes,” the report reads.

The missile ship was in the potential launch zone for Kalibr missiles in the Temryuk Bay. It sustained damage and was forced to leave its combat patrol area.

“Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to make military history. Until now, drones had attacked boats and ships, but never military vessels of this class,” analysts said.

The attack also revealed the ineffectiveness of Russian naval defenses, experts said.

“The video clearly shows the Buyan-M trying to maneuver actively, indicating the crew was aware of the threat. Yet its air defense systems remained silent,” the report reads.

The ship is equipped with the powerful Duet artillery system, designed to destroy not only drones but also cruise missiles, helicopters, and aircraft. Yet in the footage, it neither fired nor tracked the threat.

“Why this happened is hard to explain, as the crew definitely responded to threats,” the report reads.

Analysts suggest the issue may lie with the ship’s radar systems, responsible for target detection, or with its fire control system. Ultimately, the main air defense failed to operate.

“This is significant because these corvettes are essentially the backbone of the Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla — seven ships in these formations, plus four more in the Baltic Fleet,” the report said.