Ukrainian forces have announced a significant naval victory, claiming to have disabled a Russian Kilo-class attack submarine using underwater drones. The operation targeted Russia’s vital Black Sea naval base in Novorossiysk, a strategic port that has become a relocation point for vessels seeking to evade Ukrainian strikes. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated that its specially developed “Sub Sea Baby” drones were responsible for the unprecedented underwater assault.

Footage released by the SBU appears to corroborate the claim, showing a substantial underwater explosion near docked vessels, including the submarine. Independent analysis of the port’s layout by Reuters has confirmed the location of the alleged strike. This incident marks a potentially historic moment, with Ukraine asserting it is the first time an underwater drone has successfully neutralized a submarine.

Alexander Kamyshin, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, highlighted the historical significance of the attack on X, formerly Twitter. He emphasized that this operation represents a novel application of underwater drone technology in naval warfare. The targeted submarine, a diesel-electric model, is capable of deploying Kalibr cruise missiles, a weapon system Russia has extensively used against Ukrainian infrastructure, including its power grid.

This strike occurs at a critical juncture in the conflict, amidst ongoing peace negotiations that have raised concerns in Ukraine about potential pressure to accept unfavorable terms. Ukraine has been actively seeking to demonstrate its capacity to inflict substantial damage on Russian military assets, particularly following statements by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting Kyiv lacked leverage in discussions.

Ukrainian navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk described the operation as a “turning point” in the naval confrontation between the two nations. He noted the extreme difficulty in targeting submarines and suggested that repairing the damaged vessel would require above-water operations, exposing it to further risk. Russia has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident.

Novorossiysk has become increasingly important for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, with numerous vessels repositioned there from Crimea to enhance their security. The SBU indicated that Russia has lost one of its four submarines stationed at the base, three of which are equipped to carry Kalibr missiles. Ukraine continues to develop its long-range drone and missile capabilities to counter Russia’s superior arsenal, escalating attacks on various Russian military and energy targets.

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Keywords: Ukraine drone attack, Russian submarine disabled, Novorossiysk naval base, underwater drone warfare, Kilo-class submarine, Black Sea Fleet, Kalibr cruise missiles, Ukrainian naval victory