(Reuters) – Ukrainian military intelligence said on Tuesday one of its naval drones destroyed a Russian helicopter and damaged another in the Black Sea.

In a battle near Cape Tarkhankut on the western coast of Crimea on Tuesday, a Magura V5 maritime drone with missiles hit a Russian Mi-8 helicopter, Ukraine’s GUR spy agency told Telegram .

The GUR said it was the first time a Ukrainian naval drone downed an air target. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

There was no comment from Russia. Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol in Crimea, said on Telegram that two unmanned drone vessels were destroyed near the coast overnight.

After the full invasion of Russia in February 2022, Ukraine increased its drone production and developed maritime attack drones.

The downing of a Russian helicopter by a Ukrainian naval drone was also reported by the famous Russian military blogger, Voenny Osvedomitel. The GUR said a second Russian helicopter managed to reach the airfield after it was damaged in the attack.

In the grainy footage released by GUR, a helicopter flying over the water can be seen being targeted by several projectiles. The plane was filmed going down after the attack. Reuters could not immediately verify the video.

Kyiv’s military has used maritime drones to attack Russian warships and facilities on the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow seized and annexed in 2014.