A Ukrainian Naval Forces video released today (June 24, 2025) on social media shows a Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle engaging a Russian military boat in the Kherson area (Southern Ukraine).
After months of silence, a new video has surfaced showing the return of one of the most iconic assets of Ukraine’s early defense against Russia, the Bayraktar TB2. Shared on social media on June 24, 2025, the footage (which features the VMS ZSU, ‘Military Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’) shows a TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) engaging a Russian military boat in the Kherson area, reportedly destroying it with a precision strike. The engagement marks the first publicly seen use of the TB2 in months.
At the outset of the war, the Turkish-made TB2 quickly became a symbol of Ukraine’s resistance, thanks to its successful strikes on Russian convoys, air defense systems, and naval targets. According to its manufacturer, Baykar, the TB2 is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) tactical UCAV capable of both Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strike missions using munitions such as the MAM-L.
Before and during Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine acquired several TB2 systems—including units delivered to the Ukrainian Navy. These systems were particularly effective in the first year of the conflict, especially after the sinking of the Moskva, flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. With Russia’s naval air defense capability significantly degraded, TB2 drones operated with greater freedom, targeting boats and shore-based positions with little opposition.
This latest footage, which appears to show the drone conducting an armed reconnaissance mission, confirms that TB2s are still (or are back) in service and capable of striking where Russian forces remain vulnerable. It also serves as a reminder of the evolving nature of drone warfare and the lasting impact of unmanned systems in contested environments.
