Ukraine hits Russian submarine with underwater drones for the first time

Ukraine hit a Russian submarine with drones in Novorossiysk, Ukraine’s security service SBU said, marking the first time in such an attack.

The SBU said Sub Sea Baby underwater drones blew up a Russian submarine 636.3 "Varshavyanka", known as the Kilo class according to its NATO reporting name.

The submarine, worth up to €340 million, sustained critical damage and “was effectively put out of action," the SBU stated.

Pointing out the strategic importance of the target, Ukraine’s Security Service said the struck Russian submarine "carried four launchers for Kalibr cruise missiles, which the enemy uses to strike targets in Ukraine."

Kalibr missiles have been used repeatedly by Moscow in long-range strikes against Ukraine, including attacks on civilian infrastructure and energy facilities.

Ukrainian authorities said the operation was conducted jointly by the 13th Main Directorate of Ukraine’s Security Service military counterintelligence and the Naval Forces of Ukraine.

“Given the international sanctions that have been imposed, the construction of a similar submarine could now cost over €420 million," the SBU said.

Ukrainian officials said this operation marked the first time in history that underwater strike drones had been used successfully against a submarine of this class, demonstrating further evolution of Ukraine’s maritime campaign.

Following the Monday drone strike, the SBU said “the damaged boat was forced to remain in the port of Novorossiysk due to successful special operations by Sea Baby surface drones, which drove Russian ships and submarines out of Sevastopol Bay in the temporarily occupied Crimea.”

Over the past few years, Kyiv intensified its use of domestically produced maritime drones to push Moscow's navy to the ports along Russia’s mainland coast, including the one in Novorossiysk, a key naval hub which Ukraine has recently been targeting.