Magura V5
Ukrainian autonomous naval drone that struck Russian ships in the Black Sea and Mediterranean.
Last refreshed: 6 April 2026
How did a Ukrainian drone launched from Libya sink a Russian ship in the Mediterranean?
Latest on Magura V5
- What is the Magura V5 drone?
- The Magura V5 is a Ukrainian autonomous surface vessel (naval drone) about 5.5 metres long with a 200 kg warhead, capable of speeds up to 42 knots. Developed by Ukraine's defence industry and operated by the SBU, it has been used since 2023 to strike Russian ships in the Black Sea and, from 2026, in the Mediterranean.Source: entity_background
- Did Ukraine sink a Russian ship in the Mediterranean?
- Yes. A Magura V5 naval drone launched from Ezzawiya port in Libya struck and disabled the Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz on 4 March 2026. The 277-metre vessel was carrying 60,000 tonnes of LNG toward Egypt when it was hit in the open Mediterranean between Malta and Sirte.Source: russia-ukraine-war-2026 update 11
- What ships has the Magura V5 sunk?
- In the Black Sea, Magura V5 drones contributed to attacks on multiple Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels from 2023, forcing the fleet to relocate from Crimean ports. In the Mediterranean, the Arctic Metagaz LNG carrier was struck on 4 March 2026 in what appears to be the first Magura V5 strike in open ocean conditions.Source: entity_background
- How does the Magura V5 compare to Russian Shahed drones?
- The Magura V5 is a naval surface drone designed to strike ships; the Shahed is an aerial drone designed to strike land targets. The Magura V5 carries a larger explosive warhead (around 200 kg) and travels by water at up to 42 knots, whereas Shahed variants fly at subsonic speeds to ground targets.Source: entity_background
- How far can the Magura V5 travel?
- Ukraine has not officially published Magura V5 range figures, but the drone's successful strike on the Arctic Metagaz in the Mediterranean, launched from Ezzawiya in Libya, demonstrates operational range sufficient for extended open-ocean missions well beyond Black Sea distances.Source: russia-ukraine-war-2026 update 11
Background
The Magura V5 is a Ukrainian-designed autonomous surface vessel (ASV), a naval drone capable of operating without a crew, developed by Ukraine's defence industry and deployed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). It is approximately 5.5 metres long, carries a warhead of around 200 kg of explosives, and operates at speeds of up to 42 knots. The Magura V5 has been used extensively in the Black Sea since 2023 to strike Russian naval vessels and infrastructure, operating beyond the range of conventional Ukrainian naval power.
In March and April 2026, an RFI investigation revealed the Magura V5 had been extended to Mediterranean operations launched from Ezzawiya port in Libya. On 4 March 2026, a Magura V5 launched from Ezzawiya struck and disabled the Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz, a 277-metre vessel carrying 60,000 tonnes of LNG toward Egypt, in the open Mediterranean between Malta and Sirte.
The Magura V5's Mediterranean deployment marks a qualitative shift in Ukraine's naval campaign. Originally confined to the Black Sea, where it contributed to forcing the Russian Black Sea Fleet away from Ukrainian coastal waters, the drone is now interdicting Russian energy exports on international sea lanes. This expansion threatens Russia's ability to route LNG and oil through the Mediterranean regardless of which flag or insurance scheme the vessel uses, and establishes a precedent for autonomous naval warfare in open ocean conditions far from the originating state's territory.
