Western Researcher Reveals Timeline of Development of Ukrainian Magura Surface Drones

Western defense researcher H I Sutton has outlined the timeline and development of Ukraine’s Magura family of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), tracing their evolution from improvised prototypes to increasingly sophisticated naval strike platforms.

Naval News published his exclusive report.

According to Sutton, the development of the first drone, the Magura V1, began in May 2022. A small Ukrainian team of just four engineers was tasked by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) to “do something about the enemy fleet.” They decided to build small unmanned boats capable of countering Russian naval forces in the Black Sea.

The V1 was based on a modified fishing boat, with a 6-meter hull and a small outboard engine. The boat featured a distinctive raised spine along the deck’s centerline, minimizing its profile. The engine, mounted at the stern, was the vessel’s largest external component.

Field tests proved successful enough that a second version, the Magura V2, was quickly developed using a jet ski as a base. Its canoe-like hull had a rounded deck and integrated breakwaters running along its sides. Like all subsequent versions, it was operated remotely via Starlink from the shore.

On October 29, 2022, an upgraded version — Magura V3 — was used in a coordinated strike on the harbor of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea, home to the Black Sea Fleet’s main naval base. Ukrainian drones reportedly damaged several Russian warships during the operation.

The V3 design was slightly larger than its predecessor and represented a production-ready version that could be assembled in clandestine workshops across Ukraine. Its main visible difference was the addition of a third breakwater at the bow. Hidden beneath was a 150 kg warhead. An experimental version, the Magura V4, was also developed, though no further details have been disclosed.

The most prominent version to date, the Magura V5, entered service in 2023. It is 5.5 meters long with a larger hull, allowing for extended range and a bigger warhead.

Sources familiar with the program told Naval News that this model was responsible for destroying at least 17 naval targets and damaging three more—more than any previous version.

Following the V5, Ukrainian engineers introduced the W6 model, a significantly larger USV built on a trimaran design. For the first time, it was seen carrying two R-73 air-to-air missiles for limited air defense capability. A reconnaissance version, the Magura W6P, was also developed.

The newest iteration, the Magura V7, was introduced in 2025. It gained international attention after reportedly downing a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a U.S.-made Sidewinder missile in May.