Exclusive: Russian BK-16 Fast Attack Boat Battles Ukrainian Sea Drone Magura in First Ever Naval Drone Fight.

As reported by The Dead District on May 6, 2025, a Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drone armed with an R-73 missile was engaged in a naval confrontation with a Russian BK-16 high-speed assault boat in the Black Sea. This encounter, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, highlights the evolving nature of maritime warfare where unmanned systems challenge conventional naval assets. The footage reveals Russian sailors attempting to neutralize the drone with machine guns, a rocket launcher, and AK rifles, underscoring the urgency of countering Ukraine’s increasingly sophisticated naval drones. This skirmish reflects a broader technological race in the Black Sea and raises key questions about the future of unmanned sea warfare.
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Originally designed for reconnaissance and strike missions, the Magura unmanned surface vessel (USV) gained notoriety when it was equipped with an adapted R-73 infrared-guided missile, turning it into a potent mobile air-defense platform. (Picture source: Twitter/Aurora Borealis)

The Magura V5 is a Ukrainian-made unmanned surface vessel (USV) developed under the auspices of Ukraine’s GUR (Main Intelligence Directorate). Originally designed for reconnaissance and strike missions, the system gained notoriety when it was equipped with an adapted R-73 infrared-guided missile, turning it into a potent mobile air-defense platform. The R-73, a short-range air-to-air missile of Soviet origin, was reengineered to launch from the surface, giving the Magura V5 the unprecedented ability to shoot down aerial targets. On May 2, 2025, this capability was demonstrated when a Magura V5 reportedly shot down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet near Novorossiisk, a historic first in naval drone warfare.

Ukraine’s development of the Magura V5 stems from a need to offset Russian naval superiority in the Black Sea following the 2022 invasion. By leveraging relatively low-cost autonomous systems capable of both surveillance and strike, Kyiv has been able to harass and in some cases neutralize high-value Russian assets. The adaptation of the R-73 missile to the Magura platform represents a significant leap in asymmetric naval warfare, allowing Ukraine to threaten both maritime and aerial platforms with a single autonomous system.

In reaction to the growing threat posed by Ukrainian naval drones, Russia has increased deployment of fast attack craft such as the BK-16. Developed by the Kalashnikov Concern, the BK-16 is a high-speed multipurpose boat capable of reaching speeds over 40 knots and armed with 12.7mm machine guns and grenade launchers. On May 6, during a documented engagement, a BK-16 boat was seen maneuvering at high speed to evade and ultimately destroy a Magura drone. Russian sailors used heavy machine guns and even a shoulder-fired rocket launcher in a desperate attempt to neutralize the incoming USV. Though the drone was ultimately disabled and destroyed, the need for such measures illustrates the rising threat level posed by armed unmanned systems.

While precise budget figures remain undisclosed, open-source assessments suggest that the cost of a Magura V5, reportedly under $250,000 per unit, is significantly lower than that of manned aircraft or naval vessels. Its low cost and operational flexibility make it an ideal platform for Ukraine’s asymmetric naval doctrine, which focuses on decentralized, high-impact tactics. This cost-effectiveness, paired with its multi-role capabilities, gives Ukraine a scalable and disruptive asset in the ongoing Black Sea contest.

The encounter between Ukraine’s Magura V5 naval drone and Russia’s BK-16 assault boat on May 6, 2025, encapsulates the shifting dynamics of naval combat, where autonomous systems are no longer peripheral tools but central combat assets. Ukraine’s integration of air-to-air missiles into seaborne drones opens new frontiers in hybrid warfare, forcing adversaries to adapt rapidly. As Kyiv continues to push the boundaries of unmanned military innovation, the Black Sea is becoming a proving ground for future conflicts where speed, automation, and adaptability define superiority.