A Kilo-class submarine moored in the Russian port of Novorossiysk has been put out of action by an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV), Ukrainian forces have claimed.
Video footage has been released by the SBU, Ukraine’s Security Service, which apparently emanates from a security camera in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
The clip seems to show twin explosions in the immediate vicinity of unnamed submarines docked in the harbour. It’s claimed the attack was carried out by an underwater version of the “Sea Baby” drone family, aka the Magura V5 uncrewed surface vessel (USV).
An accompanying SBU press statement reads: “For the first time in history, underwater drones “Sub Sea Baby” blew up a Russian submarine of the class 636.3 “Varshavyanka” (according to NATO classification — Kilo). As a result of the explosion, the submarine suffered critical damage and was actually put out of action.
It added: “This was a joint operation of the 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence of the SBU and the Naval Forces of Ukraine.”
The improved Kilo-II-class boats are the most modern iteration of the Kilo-class submarines; they are just under 74 metres long and displace almost 4,000 tons when submerged. They are armed with torpedoes and Kalibr land-attack and anti-ship cruise missiles.
Earlier this month more SBU-released footage claimed to show a suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker, Dashan, apparently coming under a swarm attack from Magura USVs.
- You can read more details on the SBU website