Chronicle of Sea Drone (USV) attacks in Reverse Chronology since 2022
Sea drone attacks refer to incidents involving unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), also known as drone boats or explosive speedboats, used to target naval or commercial vessels. These have been prominent in ongoing conflicts, particularly in the Black Sea (Russia-Ukraine war) and the Red Sea (Houthi attacks amid the Yemen crisis). Below is a list of the world’s most recent confirmed or reported incidents from 2025, sorted in reverse chronological order (most recent first). We have included key details such as date, location, attacker, target, and outcome. Note that verification can vary due to wartime reporting, and not all drone attacks are purely surface-based (some involve hybrid aerial-surface operations).
- Date: September 1, 2025
Place: Sevastopol Bay, Crimea (Black Sea)
Attacker: Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR)
Target: Russian military tugboat.
Outcome: Tugboat damaged by a warhead-equipped sea drone. No reported casualties.Part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to disrupt Russian naval operations in occupied Crimea. - Date: August 28, 2025
Place: Mouth of the Danube River (Black Sea region)
Attacker: Russian forces
Target: Ukrainian Navy reconnaissance ship “Simferopol” (Laguna-class)
Outcome: Ship sunk by a high-speed USV strike. Two Ukrainian sailors killed, several injured.Russia’s first confirmed successful drone boat attack, mimicking Ukrainian tactics. The ship was a key intelligence asset for Ukraine. - Date: August 28, 2025
Place: Sea of Azov (near Crimean coast)
Attacker: Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR)
Target: Russian Buyan-M-class small missile carrier
Outcome: Ship damaged by FPV drones launched from a sea platform. Extent of damage unclear, but it marked a record-long-range strike (over 350 km).Demonstrates Ukraine’s evolving use of sea-based platforms for drone launches against Russian warships. - Date: August 22, 2025
Place: Novorossiysk Bay (Black Sea)
Attacker: Ukrainian forces
Target: Russian military divers
Outcome: Five Russian divers killed when a Ukrainian naval drone exploded nearby.Targeted Russian efforts to counter Ukrainian sea drones; highlights asymmetric warfare in Russian ports. - Date: August 20, 2025
Place: Off the coast of Zaliznyi Port, Kherson Oblast (Black Sea)
Attacker: Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR)
Target: Russian patrol boat
Outcome: Boat struck, killing five crew members.Part of Ukraine’s efforts to degrade Russian coastal patrols. - Date: July 9, 2025
Place: Red Sea
Attacker: Houthi rebels (Yemen)
Target: Commercial bulk carrier “Magic Seas” (Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned)
Outcome: Ship attacked and sunk by a combination of drones and explosive speedboats. Crew evacuated; no fatalities reported in this specific strike.Houthis released video footage of the attack, claiming solidarity with Gaza. Part of a series of escalations violating ceasefires. - Date: July 9, 2025
Place: Red Sea
Attacker: Houthi rebels (Yemen)
Target: Commercial cargo vessel “Eternity C” (Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned)
Outcome: Ship sunk after two days of drone and missile fire, possibly involving USVs. Four sailors killed. One of the deadliest Houthi attacks on shipping; condemned internationally as a potential war crime. - Date: July 8, 2025
Place: Red Sea
Attacker: Houthi rebels (Yemen)
Target: Unspecified bulk carrier
Outcome: Ship attacked by drones and explosive speedboats. Two seafarers killed; crew abandoned ship. Marked a violation of a U.S.-Houthi ceasefire; part of intensified Houthi operations targeting commercial vessels. - Date: July 7, 2025
Place: Crimea (Black Sea)
Attacker: Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR)
Target: Russian Project 02510 BK-16 landing craft and radar stations
Outcome: Landing craft destroyed or heavily damaged, along with three radar stations. No casualties reported. Ukraine used Magura-series sea drones; part of broader strikes on Russian infrastructure in occupied territories.
