Ukraine's SBU reports a significant operation against a Russian submarine in the Black Sea, claiming heavy damage to the vessel.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has announced a significant naval operation against Russia in the Black Sea. According to the SBU's statement, an underwater drone named "Sub Sea Baby," previously undisclosed to the public, was used to target a Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class submarine (NATO code name Kilo-class) belonging to Russia at Novorossiysk Port.
The Ukrainian side claims that the submarine sustained heavy damage and is effectively out of service. However, Russia's Black Sea Fleet contends that the attack did not cause any damage. Due to the conflicting statements from both parties, the results of the incident have not yet been fully verified by independent sources.
In footage shared by the SBU, a strong explosion is seen occurring near the submarine docked at Novorossiysk Port, with water columns rising after the explosion. Reuters confirmed the location of the footage as Novorossiysk Port but reported that it could not reach a definitive conclusion on whether the submarine sank or the extent of the damage. The Ukrainian Security Service did not provide details regarding the date and time of the attack.
Ukrainian authorities noted that Varshavyanka-class submarines are referred to as "Black Hole" due to their low acoustic signatures, making them difficult to detect by sonar systems. The statement emphasized that the submarine in question is capable of carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, which have been used in attacks on Ukrainian cities, thus possessing high strategic value. The SBU claimed that the submarine's approximate cost is around $400 million, and due to Western sanctions, the cost of a new submarine could rise to $500 million.
The operation was reportedly conducted jointly by the Ukrainian Navy and military intelligence units of the SBU. The Ukrainian side views this attack as a new phase in the asymmetric naval warfare strategy being conducted against the Russian navy in the Black Sea. Although technical details about the "Sub Sea Baby" were not shared, it is believed to be an underwater version of the previously used "Sea Baby" unmanned surface vehicles.
Ukraine asserts that since 2022, it has inflicted significant losses on the Russian navy in the Black Sea using Sea Baby-type unmanned surface vehicles, forcing Moscow to relocate some of its ships from Crimea to Novorossiysk Port. The Kyiv administration aims to weaken Russia's missile strike capacity from the sea and shift the balance in the Black Sea in its favor. Conversely, Moscow claims that military assets in Novorossiysk are safe and that Ukraine's assertions are propaganda. The true extent of the incident is expected to become clearer in the coming days through satellite images or independent military analyses.
Source: www.denizhaber.com
