Additional Coverage:
- Satellite images show damage to Russian naval base after Ukraine says it hit submarine with underwater drone (nbcnews.com)
Ukraine Unleashes “Historic First” Underwater Drone Attack, Damages Russian Naval Base
Novorossiysk, Black Sea Coast – Ukraine appears to be expanding its offensive capabilities, with new satellite imagery revealing damage to a Russian naval base following what Kyiv claims was a groundbreaking underwater drone strike. This alleged attack, which Ukraine is celebrating as the first time an underwater drone has successfully disabled a submarine, could signal a significant evolution in its drone warfare strategy.
While Russia has vehemently denied any damage, images released by Colorado-based firm Vantor on Tuesday show a section of a quay at the port of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea coast exhibiting blast damage. This port has become a critical refuge for much of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, moved there to evade frequent Ukrainian assaults on its primary base in Sevastopol, located on the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
“A section of a quay in the port has been damaged by the attack and one Kilo-class submarine is positioned nearby,” Vantor stated. “It is unclear if that specific submarine was damaged in the attack; moreover, three additional Kilo submarines are also observed in the port. A series of floating barriers remain positioned at the entrance to the naval base.”
On Monday, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) released a video purporting to show the attack, carried out by a Ukrainian-made “Sub Sea Baby” drone. The footage depicts a calm port scene before a massive explosion erupts, sending water and debris skyward.
The SBU claims the target was a Kilo-class submarine, equipped with four Kalibr cruise missile launchers, which suffered “critical damage and was effectively put out of action.” The SBU stated this was a joint operation with the Ukrainian navy.
NBC News has verified the video’s location and the likely timeframe of the attack (Sunday or Monday), though the specific target and extent of damage remain unconfirmed by independent sources. Alexander Kamyshin, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, took to X to highlight the significance of the attack as the first instance of an underwater drone destroying a submarine.
Conversely, Russia maintains that no ships or submarines of the Black Sea Fleet, nor their crews, were harmed in what it described as a “sabotage” attempt, asserting that all operations continue as normal.
“The real question is how the system got into position undetected and acquired and tracked its target,” commented Benjamin Jensen, a senior fellow for the Defense and Security Department at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. This sentiment underscores the sophisticated nature of the alleged strike.
Both Ukraine and Russia have extensively deployed drones throughout the nearly four-year conflict, making it the first large-scale war to witness such widespread drone utilization. Recent Ukrainian drone operations include an attack on two sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea in November and a complex June operation deep within Russia that reportedly damaged or destroyed dozens of Russian planes. That particular operation involved 117 small drones, reportedly stashed in truck sheds and unleashed near four Russian air bases, with one located approximately 2,500 miles from Ukraine’s borders.
Despite these advancements, analysts suggest that Ukraine’s latest drone capabilities are unlikely to be a game-changer in the protracted war. Russia’s own extensive drone network continues to facilitate attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
“The attack will not have a significant impact on Russia’s war in Ukraine, which focuses more on a mix of seizing additional terrain in Eastern Ukraine and using a punishment campaign to target Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure each night with drones and missiles,” Jensen explained. “The four missiles that won’t be shot tonight from the Kilo pale in comparison to the hundreds of drones that will be launched at Ukrainian cities.”