Militarnyi, an online portal of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, on 29/5 published a video of an attack conducted by the Unmanned Systems Force (USF) targeting the Novorossiysk port in Russia’s Krasnodar region last week.

The video shows Russian air defense forces firing multiple volleys of ammunition and projecting a blue beam, seemingly a laser, to counter the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). However, a Ukrainian aircraft, believed to be an FP-1 or FP-2 model, still bypassed the barrage, dove down, and exploded.

In the upper right corner, infrared camera footage from the UAV shows it targeting a warship docked at the pier. The footage cuts as the aircraft approaches its target, leaving the outcome — whether it hit the warship or the pier — unclear.

A Ukrainian UAV breaches air defenses during an attack on a Russian warship on 23/5. Video: *Militarnyi*.

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Force stated it targeted the Admiral Essen missile frigate. However, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces later identified the warship in the footage as the Pytlivyi patrol ship, part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Russian officials have not yet commented on the video.

The Pytlivyi patrol ship belongs to Project 1135M, an upgraded version of Project 1135 Burevestnik. Construction began in 1979, and it was launched and commissioned into the Soviet Navy in 1981. The ship was assigned to the Black Sea Fleet one year later.

The Pytlivyi was initially designed for anti-submarine warfare in both coastal and open waters. The Russian Navy later repurposed the Pytlivyi as an offshore patrol vessel, escorting transport ships and maintaining military presence. It is also the last remaining Project 1135M ship in active service with the Russian Navy.

The Pytlivyi warship in a photo published in 2003. Photo: *Wikimedia*.

The ship is 123 m long, over 14 m wide, has a displacement of 3,200 tons, a maximum speed of nearly 60 km/h, a range exceeding 9,200 km at a speed of 26 km/h, and a crew of 197.

For its anti-submarine role, the Pytlivyi is equipped with a Rastrub-B anti-submarine missile launcher, two 533 mm torpedo tube clusters, and two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers. The ship also features two Osa-MA-2 air defense systems and two 100 mm AK-100 naval guns.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has sustained significant losses after more than four years of conflict. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense announced last month that Russia has lost 9 warships, 6 patrol ships, 6 supply ships, three transport ships, and one submarine since the outbreak of hostilities.

Pham Giang (According to Militarnyi, New Voice of Ukraine, TASS)