Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) destroyed a Russian Su-33 carrier-based fighter jet, a Mi-8 helicopter and two radar systems during strikes in Russia’s Krasnodar region, according to USF Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi.
Brovdi said the aircraft were destroyed in Anapa during overnight operations on September 9. Ukrainian forces also struck a Kasta-2E2 radar and a 92N6 radar used by Russia’s S-300 and S-400 air-defence systems in the Gelendzhik area.
The attacks were part of a wider operation that also targeted Russia’s Novorossiysk naval base on the Black Sea. According to Brovdi, a combined strike by the Ukrainian Defence Forces involving USF units destroyed or damaged several Russian military vessels, including missile carriers. He did not specify the number or types of vessels affected.
Brovdi also reported an increase in the activity of Ukrainian unmanned systems along the front line. According to him, USF units killed an average of 411 Russian personnel per day during the first eight days of September, compared with an average of 355 per day in August — an increase of around 16%.
He attributed the increase partly to a greater concentration of Russian troops on frontline positions, particularly in the Dobropillia direction in Donetsk region.
Between September 1 and 8, USF units recorded 3,395 Russian personnel killed and 16,720 Russian targets successfully struck, according to Brovdi.
The Unmanned Systems Forces have also continued operations against vessels in the Black Sea. Brovdi said 13 vessels associated with Russia’s so-called shadow fleet were hit during the first eight days of September as part of Operation MoLoChKa.
Since the operation began on July 6, Ukrainian unmanned forces have struck 282 vessels, he said.
