Reports: Bayraktar Combat Drone Played Role In Sinking Russian Warship

Russia is offering a 50,000 ruble reward for each destroyed Bayraktar TB2 combat drone, according to social media reports.

Kimberly Johnson

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 05:29 PM ET

Verified

Tactical armed unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone, are playing a critical role in Ukraine's fight. [Courtesy: OE Data Integration Network]

Key Takeaways:

The Russian Black Sea flagship *Moskva* was sunk by Ukrainian Neptune anti-cruise missiles, a claim confirmed by a U.S. defense official, contrary to Russia's account of a fire and storm.
While initial reports suggested a Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone distracted the *Moskva*'s air defenses, defense experts now largely dispute this specific role.
Regardless of its involvement in the *Moskva* sinking, the Bayraktar TB2 drone has become a crucial symbol of Ukrainian resistance, a "force multiplier" against Russian ground forces, and a high-value target for Russia.

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A 1,500-pound combat drone was an integral part of an operation that allowed Ukrainian forces to sink the Soviet-era missile destroyer Moskva, Russia’s Black Sea flagship, last week, according to reports.

At least one Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone operated by Ukrainian forces was involved in the operation when it was used to distract the Russian war ship’s air defenses, Forbes reported.