Ukraine Claims First-Ever Strike on Russian Submarine Using Underwater Drones

Ukraine's security service (SBU) announced Monday that it had successfully struck a Russian submarine docked in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. According to the SBU, the attack caused significant damage, effectively taking the vessel out of service.

The SBU stated that this operation marked the first time they had used underwater drones, specifically “Sub Sea Baby” drones, for such an attack. Video footage released by the agency showed a substantial explosion within the port area.

According to the SBU, the targeted Kilo-class submarine is capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles, with a capacity of up to four at a time. Russia has frequently used these missiles to attack targets within Ukraine throughout the ongoing war. The agency noted that the submarine is nicknamed "Black Hole" due to its hull's design, which makes it difficult to detect with sonar. The SBU estimates the cost of this class of submarine at around $400 million, but international sanctions impacting Russia's access to technology could now raise the cost of building a similar vessel to $500 million.

The SBU further stated that previous Ukrainian sea drone operations had forced the targeted vessel to remain in the port of Novorossiysk. These earlier operations had prompted Russia to relocate many of its ships and submarines from Sevastopol Bay in Crimea.

Russian officials have not yet released any comments regarding the incident.

The attack occurred amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It was reported shortly after the conclusion of a second day of discussions in Berlin between delegations from the United States and Ukraine.

During a press conference held in Berlin on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the necessity for Kyiv to have complete assurance regarding the security guarantees provided by its allies before making any decisions concerning the front lines in a potential peace settlement with Russia. Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelensky stressed that any security guarantees should include monitoring of any ceasefire.

Zelensky raised concerns about who would conduct the monitoring and what sanctions would be imposed if monitoring missions were disrupted. While Zelensky indicated that these questions remain unanswered, Merz stated that the United States had offered Ukraine "significant" guarantees during the talks in Berlin, though he did not provide specific details.