Failed To Occupy Snake Island: 30 Ukrainian Military Drones Disabled By Russia, Including Turkey's Bayraktar TB2

Turkey Bayraktar TB2 drone illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Army.com.ua)

JAKARTA - Dozens of Ukrainian military drones have been knocked out by Russian troops, as the Kyiv army attempted to occupy Snake Island in the Black Sea, adding to the long list of defense equipment losses in the region.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said Kyiv lost about 30 combat drones on Snake Island in the past three days.

"Let me point out, another Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle Bayraktar-TB2 was destroyed by a Russian anti-aircraft system on Snake Island," he explained, cited from TASS, May 11.

According to Konashenkov, thus, the Kiev regime has lost 30 combat drones in the area in the past three days, including nine Bayraktar-TB2 attack drones.

"All the drones were involved in the failed 'PR action' of the Kiev regime to seize Snake Island on the night of May 9, Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (the war of the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany in 1941-1945)," Konashenkov added.

The Bayraktar TB2 is a Turkish-made attack drone with a range of 150 km, an operating speed of 130 km/h and a payload of 50 kg, equipped with an automatic take-off and landing system.

As previously reported, Ukraine's attempt to seize Snake Island failed and left dozens of its soldiers dead. In addition, four Ukrainian aircraft were downed, including three Sukhoi Su-24 and one Sukhoi Su-27, three Mil Mi-8 helicopters with paratroopers and one Mil Mi-24 helicopter.

Also during an aerial landing attempt on the evening of May 8, three Project 58181 Ukrainian Centaur armored assault ships with Ukrainian Navy personnel were destroyed.