Post by : Rameen Ariff

In a historic first, Ukraine successfully struck a Russian Kilo-class attack submarine using underwater drones, Ukrainian officials confirmed on Monday. The operation, carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) with its "Sub Sea Baby" drones, targeted the submarine docked in the port of Novorossiysk, Russia’s key Black Sea base. Many Russian naval vessels had been moved to this port to shield them from Ukrainian attacks.

Footage released by the SBU showed a powerful explosion erupting from the water near the pier where the submarine and other naval vessels were stationed. Reuters verified the footage, confirming it was filmed at Novorossiysk by matching the layout of the port’s piers and facilities. Alexander Kamyshin, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, stated on social media platform X that this marked the first time in history an underwater drone had successfully neutralized a submarine.

Ukraine, which has almost no naval fleet of its own, has increasingly relied on sea drones and long-range missiles to challenge Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The diesel-electric submarine targeted in Novorossiysk is capable of carrying at least four Kalibr-type cruise missiles, a key component of Russia’s recent strikes on Ukraine that have caused widespread damage to the nation’s power infrastructure. The submarine had been relocated from Crimea after Ukraine’s repeated attacks on Russian forces in Sevastopol forced the Russian navy to move its vessels to safer ports.

The Ukrainian navy described the submarine strike as “another turning point” in the ongoing naval battle between Ukraine and Russia. Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian navy, said hitting a submarine—one of the hardest targets to strike—demonstrated a significant shift in naval combat possibilities. He added that repairing the submarine would be extremely difficult, as it would require above-water maintenance, leaving the vessel vulnerable to further attacks. With this strike, Russia has lost one of its four submarines stationed in Novorossiysk, three of which carry Kalibr missiles.

The strike comes amid sensitive US-brokered peace negotiations, where Ukrainians fear they could be pressured into agreeing to terms that compromise the country’s sovereignty. By demonstrating the capability to damage high-value Russian naval assets, Ukraine aims to strengthen its position in the negotiations and show its capacity to defend its territory.

In recent months, Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian military, energy, and industrial infrastructure, using advanced long-range drone and missile technology to counterbalance Russia’s superior arsenal. The success of the "Sub Sea Baby" drones in Novorossiysk highlights Ukraine’s growing proficiency in underwater and naval warfare and marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict in the Black Sea region.

#Global News