Special Forces of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine have regained control of oil and gas drilling platforms in the Black Sea.

A video of the operation was shared by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine on its social media.

The Boyko Towers are Ukrainian gas and oil drilling platforms off the coast of Crimea in the Black Sea. Russia seized them in 2015 and has been using them for military purposes since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Already during the full-scale invasion, the gas and oil drilling platforms were used by the invaders as reconnaissance outposts and helicopter landing sites.

The operation to establish control over the Boyko Towers was carried out with the help of intelligence agencies. The Petro Godovalets and Ukraine drilling platforms, as well as the Tavrida and Syvash facilities, were brought back under control.

Ukrainian forces arrived in several groups on Willard Sea Force 730 combat boats equipped with M2 Browning heavy machine guns.

During the operation, the soldiers eliminated the Russian Neva radar, which was installed by the invaders to monitor the movement of ships at sea. It was dismantled and taken to the mainland.

A stockpile of unguided aircraft missiles, presumably intended for incoming Russian helicopters, was also found on the Boiko Towers. The missiles were also seized and are said to be “returned” to the Russians soon.

During one of the phases of the operation, a battle took place between Ukrainian military on boats and a Russian Su-30 fighter. The aircraft tried to hit the surface targets with its 30mm aircraft cannon but missed.

In the course of the battle, the Ukrainian soldiers managed to hit a Russian aircraft with a man-portable air defense system. It was damaged and forced to retreat.

Due to the boat’s sharp maneuvers in an attempt to evade the aircraft’s fire, a soldier with the callsign “Conan” fell out of the boat into the water. A group of soldiers on boats was forced to leave the boat, fleeing from enemy aircraft.

Eventually, the group was able to find him at sea with the help of a UAV and returned for him. In total, Conan spent 14 hours in the water.