Overview
- Ukraine’s Security Service said its Sub Sea Baby underwater drones, in a joint operation with the Ukrainian Navy, struck a Kilo-class submarine in Novorossiysk and left it effectively out of service.
- Video released by the SBU shows a blast at the port, and Reuters matched the footage to Novorossiysk using the harbor’s layout and piers.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry rejected the claim, stating no ships, submarines, or crews at the base were damaged.
- The SBU said the targeted boat carried four Kalibr cruise-missile launchers and valued such submarines at about $400 million, with sanctions potentially pushing replacements to $500 million.
- Ukrainian navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk cast the strike as a turning point in the naval fight and suggested repairs would be difficult if the submarine must be worked on above water.