Ukraine used an underwater drone to blow up a £300 million Russian submarine

Credit: Telegram/@SBUkr

Ukraine claims to have shot down a Russian submarine using an underwater drone for the first time.

A submarine carrying Kalibr cruise missiles and estimated to cost around £300 million has been seriously damaged after colliding with the Russian port city of Novorossiysk, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Monday.

The SBU did not specify the date or time of the attack. If confirmed, it would be the first time an underwater drone has struck a Russian submarine since the attack began in 2022.

According to news agencies, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet said that a Ukrainian attempt to attack a Russian naval base had failed.

“Not a single ship or submarine of the Black Sea Fleet based in Novorossiysk Bay was damaged,” the agencies quoted the Black Sea Fleet as saying on Monday. “There were no injuries to the crew.”

Reported video footage of the attack shows several Russian warships and a submarine surfacing before suddenly exploding in the water.

The clip has not been independently verified, but Reuters confirmed the location as Novorossiysk using the port’s layout and piers.

The SBU claimed the 636.6-class submarine, which “carries four caliber cruise missile launchers”, has been effectively decommissioned.

Replacing it, considering the international sanctions imposed on Moscow, would cost up to £370m, the SBU said.

“The Security Service of Ukraine conducted another unique special operation and launched a naval attack on the port of Novorossiysk,” the SBU said in a statement.

“For First Time in History, Sub Sea Baby Underwater Drone Blows Up Russian … Submarine.”

Ukraine’s upgraded “sub sea baby” drones were unveiled in October, according to the statement.

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The drones reportedly operate at a range of over 1,500 km and can carry a payload of up to 2,000 kg, almost double the previous limit.

According to Kiev, they were previously used to strike the support pillars of the Kerch Bridge linking Crimea with mainland Russia and three sanctioned oil tankers attached to Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea.

Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk told Reuters the operation to strike the submarine was seen as “another turning point” in the naval war between Ukraine and Russia.

Aleksandr Kamyshin, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote in X that it was the first time in history that an underwater drone had neutralized a submarine. “I’ve been waiting for this day,” he said.

Kalibr is one of the most modern and accurate cruise missiles in Russia’s arsenal. They are expensive and it is doubtful how much Moscow has left because of difficulties buying Western electronics.

The Varshavyanka submarine is known as a “black hole” because of the hull’s ability to absorb sound and remain invisible to sonars.

According to Ukrainian military analyst and former SBU officer Ivan Stupak, Russia has only 12 submarines – six in its Black Sea fleet and six in its Pacific fleet.

He said on social media that Novorossiysk is a heavily guarded port. “This is a real game-changer. As a result, another caliber cruise missile carrier is lost and the total potential missile salvo against Ukrainian territory is slightly reduced,” Mr. Stupak said.

Ukraine has become the world leader in maritime drones and is believed to have carried out at least 13 strikes with them.

Kiev has used them to attack Russian military ships and a naval base in Sevastopol, forcing Moscow to move its ships from the Crimean port to Novorossiysk.

Ukraine has stepped up its naval offensive in the Black Sea in recent weeks. Russia regularly attacks the port of Odesa in Ukraine.

Drones have become an important part of Kiev’s fight against Russia because the devices are cheaper and faster to produce than conventional weapons.

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