Russia, Ukraine trade drone claims over Black Sea [Video]

Russia and Ukraine traded claims on Monday on downing enemy drones over the Black sea, with both sides apparently devoting increasing attention to developing and using unmanned aircraft.

Russia’s Defence Ministry, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said its air defence units had intercepted six Ukrainian drones attempting to carry out a “terrorist attack.” It said two more drones were downed over the border region of Belgorod.

A spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force, Illya Yevlash, told national television that Ukrainian forces had downed a Russian “Forpost” drone which he described as one of the most sophisticated and costly in Moscow’s arsenal.

“It’s not often we get a target like that, but we did it — one of the most expensive Forpost attack drones,” Yevlash said, estimating its value at US$8 million.

Military publications describe the Forpost as a Russian version of a reconnaissance drone used for decades by Israel and capable of carrying …