Ukrainian Underwater Drone Destroys Russian Submarine in Novorossiysk - video

For the first time since the beginning of modern naval conflicts, a military submarine has been hit and put out of action by an underwater drone. Ukraine announced this, claiming to have destroyed a Russian submarine of the Kilo (636.3 “Varshavyanka”) class while it was docked in the port of Novorossiysk, on the Black Sea.

According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on its Telegram channel, the operation was conducted with Sub Sea Baby underwater drones, which allegedly caused an explosion capable of inflicting critical damage to the naval unit.
"For the first time in history, Sub Sea Baby underwater drones have blown up a Russian submarine," stated the SBU, adding that the vessel "was effectively put out of service."

The Russian Submarine Class 636.3 Varshavyanka

The submarine belongs to the 636.3 Varshavyanka class, known in NATO circles as Kilo and nicknamed Black Hole for its hull's ability to absorb sounds and reduce visibility to sonar.
It is a conventional attack submarine in production since the 1980s: according to military analysts, Russia owns over thirty of them.

On board the targeted unit were four launch platforms for Kalibr cruise missiles, used by Moscow to strike Ukrainian territory. The estimated value of a submarine of this class is about 400 million dollars, a figure that could rise to 500 million considering international sanctions.

The Operation in the Black Sea

The attack was conducted by a joint unit composed of the 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence of the SBU and the Ukrainian Naval Forces. The submarine was in the port of Novorossiysk, where it had been forced to take refuge after a series of Ukrainian operations conducted with Sea Baby surface naval drones, which had already pushed the Russian fleet to abandon the bay of Sevastopol, in Crimea.

The SBU described the action as "another unique special operation," highlighting the strategic impact of the attack.

Since the beginning of the war in 2022, Ukraine has intensified the use of naval drones and missiles against Russian units in the Black Sea, forcing Moscow's Navy to reduce operations and move towards the eastern part of the basin.

In recent months, Kyiv had already struck the port of Novorossiysk multiple times. At the end of November, a major oil terminal near the port was forced to suspend activities after an attack with marine drones. Between the end of November and the beginning of December, oil tankers linked to Russia were also hit.

Moscow, for its part, continues to regularly bomb the Ukrainian port of Odessa, where Turkish transport ships have also been damaged in recent days.

At the moment, Russia has not released official comments on Ukraine's claims. However, if confirmed, the attack would mark a historic turning point in naval warfare, demonstrating the effectiveness of underwater drones as a new strategic weapon in modern conflicts.