The Arithmetic of War: Ukraine Took Out a Russian Ship Worth $400 Million with a $55,000 Drone 0 9

The Russian corvette of project 20380 "Boykiy" of the Baltic Fleet sustained critical damage after being struck by a Ukrainian long-range drone FP-1. According to analysts, this attack essentially means its destruction, writes Defence Express.

New video footage of the fire on the ship, which was hit on June 3 at the dry dock of the Kronstadt Marine Plant, showed the extent of the damage immediately after the attack – even before active firefighting began. This, it is noted, allowed for a more accurate assessment of the initial state of the damage.

The released materials show that the tower-mast structure of the corvette collapsed inward. It housed key radio-electronic systems of the ship, in particular:

• the Furke-2 radar;
• the Monument-A target designation radar;
• the MR-231-2 navigation radars;
• the TK-25 electronic warfare complex.

As a result of the collapse of the structure, elements of the launchers for the Kh-35 anti-ship missiles of the Uran complex were also damaged.

The fire, according to observations, engulfed the internal spaces behind the wheelhouse – this is where the combat posts for controlling the weapons and systems of the ship are located.

Analysts pay particular attention to the fact that fire was also recorded in the area under the bridge, where the crew's living quarters are located. In addition, deformations are visible in the hull, which may indicate an internal explosion.

The damage also affected the area of the "Packet-NK" complex – the 324-mm anti-torpedo launchers located near the engine room. This likely means that the fire could have reached the ship's main diesel power plant.

According to eyewitness accounts, 4–5 hydrants were involved in extinguishing the fire, but by the time firefighting began, the fire was already actively developing inside the hull.

Experts note that prolonged high temperatures lead to a loss of metal strength, and subsequent flooding with water leads to accelerated corrosion, making the restoration of the ship extremely problematic.

According to available data, the strike was carried out by a Ukrainian long-range drone FP-1, costing about $55,000. At the same time, the cost of the project 20380 corvette as of 2021 is estimated at $350–400 million.

The drone covered more than 900 km to the target, after which, as analysts emphasize, the ship is effectively out of action with critical damage equivalent to the complete destruction of the combat unit.

As reported by the media, Ukrainian drones struck the Russian corvette "Boykiy" – a carrier of guided missile weapons – in the port of Kronstadt. The corvette had been undergoing scheduled repairs since February 2026. The ship had not previously been subjected to strikes and was known for participating in operations near NATO borders and escorting the Russian "shadow" oil fleet.