Ukraine destroys Russian submarine — according to the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), on 16 December 2025 a Russian Kilo-class submarine was attacked and severely damaged in the port of Novorossiysk using an underwater drone. The incident is said to have taken place at the home base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Moscow has confirmed an attack but denies that any vessels were damaged. The incident is reported by The WP Times, citing information from Tagesschau.
According to the SBU, the operation was a targeted special mission against Russia’s navy. An underwater drone of the “Sub Sea Baby” type was reportedly deployed, detonating directly beneath the submarine in the harbour basin. As a result, the vessel was “practically put out of action”, the Ukrainian intelligence service stated. The SBU described the incident as unprecedented, claiming it was the first time a Russian submarine had been destroyed by a maritime drone.
To support its claims, the SBU released a video on Telegram which allegedly shows the moment of the explosion. Independent confirmation of the footage’s authenticity and the extent of the damage was not immediately available.
Russia has rejected the Ukrainian account. The press service of the Black Sea Fleet stated that while a sabotage attempt had occurred at the naval base in Novorossiysk, it had not been successful. “None of the ships or submarines stationed in the bay, nor their crews, were damaged,” said Alexey Rulyov, spokesperson for the Black Sea Fleet.
Novorossiysk has repeatedly been targeted since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022. The port city is considered a strategically vital base for the Black Sea Fleet and a key hub for military and energy-related infrastructure.
In late November 2025, a major oil terminal in Novorossiysk was forced to suspend operations temporarily following a Ukrainian drone strike. Kyiv aims to weaken Russia’s naval presence in the Black Sea and disrupt logistical supply routes through such attacks.
Russia, meanwhile, continues to carry out regular strikes on Ukrainian port cities. Odesa has been particularly affected, with foreign cargo vessels damaged in recent days. The reciprocal attacks highlight the growing militarisation of the Black Sea and the increasing role of maritime drone technology in the conflict.
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