Drone 'downs' Russian Mi-28 helicopter & 'Moscow will fall through Crimea': Ukraine's new campaign

Ukraine has significantly ramped up its maritime drone offensive, now termed "Operation Maloska," by expanding its focus from the Sea of Azov into the wider Black Sea to disrupt Russian oil infrastructure and military logistics. While this campaign aims to make the occupation of Crimea untenable, Ukraine continues to weather daily Russian missile and drone attacks on civilian areas, which recently caused the deadliest month for civilians since early 2022.

• Maritime drone strategy — Ukraine's unmanned systems forces shifted operations to the Black Sea, hitting 20 vessels including oil tankers and gas carriers in a single night [02:35].

• Operational goal — Commanders coined the term "Maloska," which translates to "Moscow will fall through Crimea," reflecting the plan to systematically cut off Russian control ship by ship and bridge by bridge [01:32].

• Helicopter engagement — Ukrainian forces claim a drone struck a Russian Mi-28 helicopter in Belgorod, though the ultimate fate of the aircraft remains unconfirmed due to a lack of follow-up imagery [05:57].

• Civilian casualties — The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported that June was the deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since April 2022, with nearly 300 killed and 2,000 injured [12:06].

• Infrastructure attacks — Drones caused a total blackout in Kerch, forcing local authorities to rely on backup power for essential services [05:17].

• Patriot production — Reports indicate the US has begun the process of granting Ukraine licenses to manufacture Patriot missiles, signaling a move toward long-term industrial support [17:20].

• Grain harvest concerns — Russia may face agricultural disruptions because potential fuel shortages make it difficult for independent farmers to secure enough diesel for harvesting equipment [37:14].

• Dragonfire deployment — The UK is investing approximately half a billion pounds into the Dragonfire laser system, with expectations for it to enter Royal Navy service by 2027 [35:50].

• What is the stated purpose of "Operation Maloska"?

• Why do air raid alerts sometimes trigger after a missile has already arrived?