Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the Ukrainian Navy have claimed responsibility for a historic attack using underwater drones to strike and critically damage a Russian submarine, marking what Kyiv says is the first such operation in maritime warfare. In a statement released on December 15, Ukrainian officials said their domestically developed “Sub Sea Baby” underwater drones successfully hit a Russian Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class (Kilo-class) submarine docked at the Novorossiysk naval base on the Black Sea, causing an explosion that rendered the vessel inoperable. The submarine reportedly carried four Kalibr cruise missile launchers often used against Ukrainian targets.
The SBU said the joint operation by its 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence and the Ukrainian Navy represented a significant advance in Kyiv’s use of unmanned systems to challenge Russia’s naval superiority. Officials described the strike as a tactical and symbolic blow to Moscow’s capabilities, with the estimated cost of replacing the submarine reaching up to $500 million given current sanctions on Russia.
While Ukrainian authorities released footage showing the impact, independent verification and confirmation from Russian authorities have not yet been reported. Nevertheless, the operation underscores Ukraine’s increasing reliance on innovative drone technology in its ongoing conflict with Russia and highlights the growing complexity of naval engagements in the Black Sea.
