Ukrainian attack underwater drones struck a Russian submarine moored at the port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, according to information released by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU).
The operation reportedly employed submersible drones of the Sub Sea Baby type, used in a joint action with the Ukrainian Navy.
According to the SSU, the target was a Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class submarine, known to NATO as the Kilo class. The explosion occurred near the stern of the vessel, where the horizontal and vertical rudders as well as the propeller are located. The Ukrainian agency states that, due to the damage, the submarine suffered critical failures and was effectively rendered inoperable.
+ Click here to watch the video
The struck submarine was reportedly equipped with four Kalibr cruise missile launchers, a weapon system widely employed by the Russian Navy in long-range strikes. According to the SSU, the action is part of a broader set of operations aimed at restricting Russian naval mobility in the Black Sea.
The operation was conducted by the 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine in cooperation with the Ukrainian Navy. The statement says the submarine had already been remaining in the port of Novorossiysk following successive actions with Sea Baby surface drones, which forced Russian ships and submarines to relocate from Sevastopol Bay in temporarily occupied Crimea.
Ukrainian underwater drones
Ukraine has been developing different models of attack underwater drones for years. The Sub Sea Baby cited in the operation has not yet been officially presented to the public, and its technical characteristics remain largely confidential.
Open-source information indicates, however, that at least three underwater platforms have been developed in the country: TLK 1000, TLK 400, and TLK 150. The largest of them, the TLK 1000, can range from 4 to 12 meters in length depending on the mission and is capable of carrying a combat payload of up to 5,000 kg of warhead.
Experts note that the use of underwater drones represents a significant evolution in Ukraine’s asymmetric capabilities, expanding the reach of its operations against high-value naval targets even in heavily protected ports.
Source and images: militarnyi | Security Service of Ukraine – Telegram @SBUkr. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
