Key Points
- Ukrainian sources say underwater “Sub Sea Baby” drones attacked Russia’s Novorossiysk naval base and disabled a Project 636.3 Kilo-class submarine carrying Kalibr cruise missiles.
- The operation was carried out collectively by Ukraine’s Security Service army counterintelligence and the Ukrainian Navy, in response to Ukrainian officers.
Ukrainian strike underwater drones have attacked a Russian naval base in Novorossiysk, in what Ukrainian officers describe as the primary fight use of underwater drones to disable a contemporary diesel-electric submarine.
According to Ukrainian sources, underwater drones often called “Sub Sea Baby” detonated beneath a Russian Project 636.3 submarine of the Varshavyanka class, recognized in NATO reporting because the Kilo class. The explosion induced vital harm to the submarine, successfully placing it out of motion.
The submarine was carrying 4 launchers for Kalibr cruise missiles, Ukrainian officers stated, underscoring the strategic significance of the goal. Kalibr missiles have been used repeatedly by Russia in long-range strikes in opposition to Ukraine, together with assaults on infrastructure and army services.
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Ukrainian authorities stated the operation was carried out collectively by the thirteenth Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine’s army counterintelligence and the Naval Forces of Ukraine. The assault came about on the port of Novorossiysk, a key Russian naval hub on the Black Sea that has taken on larger significance since Ukrainian strikes pressured Russian vessels to disperse from Crimea.
As reported by Ukrainian sources, the broken submarine had been stationed in Novorossiysk after a sequence of particular operations involving Ukrainian floor maritime drones, together with the Sea Baby system. Those earlier assaults pushed Russian warships and submarines out of Sevastopol Bay in Russian-occupied Crimea, forcing Moscow to rely extra closely on ports alongside Russia’s mainland coast.
Ukrainian officers stated this marked the primary time in historical past that underwater strike drones have been used efficiently in opposition to a submarine of this class. Project 636.3 submarines are amongst Russia’s most trendy diesel-electric boats and are designed for low acoustic signatures, making them tough to detect and monitor. The class is broadly utilized by the Russian Navy and has additionally been exported to a number of overseas clients.
The Varshavyanka-class submarine focused in Novorossiysk was reportedly unable to depart port following the explosion. Ukrainian sources stated the harm was extreme sufficient to take away the vessel from operational service, although no impartial evaluation has but been launched by Russian authorities.
Russia has not publicly confirmed the incident or commented on the situation of the submarine. In previous instances, Moscow has both delayed acknowledgment of losses within the Black Sea or denied Ukrainian claims outright, even when satellite tv for pc imagery or follow-on proof later supported Kyiv’s account.
The use of underwater drones represents an extra evolution of Ukraine’s maritime strike marketing campaign. Over the previous two years, Ukraine has relied closely on unmanned floor and subsurface techniques to offset Russia’s numerical benefit at sea. These techniques have focused warships, patrol vessels, touchdown ships, and port infrastructure, typically deep behind Russian-controlled waters.
