In a bold move that has caught international attention, a Ukrainian special military unit announced that they sank a ship belonging to Russia's Black Sea Fleet using a fleet of sea drones powered by Jet Skis. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine shared a video on Thursday that purportedly shows the attack on the corvette Ivanovets, which ends with footage of the ship sinking stern-first into the water.

Although Russia has not yet commented on the video, both pro-Russian and Western observers consider the footage to be strong evidence of the sinking. The authenticity of the event has not been independently confirmed, but experts believe it significantly weakens Russia's control over the Black Sea.

The head of military intelligence in Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, revealed that the ship was targeted by six Maritime Autonomous Guard Unmanned Robotic Apparatuses (MAGURA V5). These MAGURA V5 naval drones, developed domestically, are multipurpose and measure 18 feet in length. They possess a hydrodynamic profile and can travel up to 500 miles, as per specifications shared at a 2023 arms fair.

The same model of drones was reportedly involved in an attack on two Russian landing crafts in western Crimea last November, as reported by The War Zone. Speaking with CNN, one of the drone pilots, operating under the call sign "13," explained that the drones were powered by Jet Skis and controlled via a Starlink connection. The drones can be preprogrammed for most of their journey but are monitored by a pilot and can be manually controlled for the final approach.

The drones' low profile makes them difficult to spot against the water, as seen in the video where the Ivanovets can be seen firing into the water in an attempt to take them out. The pilot who spoke with CNN revealed that a total of 10 MAGURA V5s were deployed for the mission, with six successfully hitting the ship.

Analysts have viewed the claimed destruction of the corvette as a significant blow to Russia's control over the Black Sea. The Ivanovets, likely used as a patrol ship, was responsible for deterring saboteurs attempting to land in Crimea and defending against naval drones targeting more valuable assets, according to Sidharth Kaushal, a naval expert at the UK's Royal United Services Institute.

Ukrainian naval captain Dmytro Pletenchuk added that the operations of Russia's Black Sea Fleet have been severely impacted by months of attacks, stating that they have been "greatly complicated, if not paralyzed." The sinking of the ship further complicates Russia's control over the Black Sea, signaling an ongoing struggle for dominance in the region.

As Russia remains silent on the matter, the sinking of the corvette Ivanovets stands as a bold statement from Ukraine and a display of the evolving capabilities and tactics in modern maritime warfare.