Satellite imagery has revealed visible traces of an explosion in the port of Novorossiysk, close to a Russian Varshavyanka-class submarine.
According to a report by Radio Liberty, the images taken on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, show damage to a pier caused by an underwater explosion that occurred a few dozen metres from the submarine, which remains docked at the exact location.
The vessel is a Varshavyanka-class (Project 636.3) diesel-electric submarine, known to be capable of carrying Kalibr cruise missiles. The satellite images do not reveal the full extent of damage to the submarine. However, the images suggest there was no direct impact on the submarine’s hull, despite visible blast damage to nearby infrastructure.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported on Monday that it had carried out an attack on the submarine at the Novorossiysk naval base. According to the SBU, the submarine sustained “critical damage” and was rendered inoperable. Ukraine stated that the submarine carried four Kalibr missile launchers, which it said were used in attacks against Ukrainian territory.
Russia claims the Varshavyanka submarine suffered no surface damage
The Russian Black Sea Fleet confirmed that Ukrainian naval drones attacked the Novorossiysk naval base but rejected claims that the submarine was severely damaged or destroyed.
In an official statement, Russia said the information released by Ukrainian authorities was false and stated that the attempted sabotage using an unmanned underwater vehicle did not cause damage to any ships, submarines, or crews in the base.
Russia later on Tuesday released footage showing a Project 636.3 Improved Kilo-class submarine afloat at the Novorossiysk base, asserting that it was undamaged. The footage did not clearly show the submarine’s stern, the area Ukraine claims was struck, and the time the footage was recorded was not specified.
According to Ukrainian sources, the attack was a joint operation involving the 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence of the SBU and the Ukrainian Naval Forces. Ukraine said the strike used a new unmanned underwater vehicle, the “Sub Sea Baby” drone.
Ukraine also released a video of the attack, reportedly captured by a harbour camera, showing an explosion at the stern of a submarine moored inside the naval base.
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There has been no independent verification confirming whether the submarine was sunk or rendered inoperable.
Ukraine reveals new details of Novorossiysk submarine strike
Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said preparations for the operation were complex, citing multiple stages, from the development of the strike system to planning and counterintelligence measures.
He stated that Novorossiysk is a heavily protected base and that Russian vessels often relocate or leave the base when threats are detected.
“This operation had many layers, starting with the development of the strike system itself and ending with planning and preventing information leaks. Carrying out such an operation is a comprehensive and quite complicated task,” Pletenchuk said.
“They are forced to stay there [in the port of Novorossiysk – ed.] and, in case of any danger, change their mooring location — reposition ships or leave the base altogether to avoid being struck. But here, as you can see, they felt no danger at all.”
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Pletenchuk added that Ukraine had previously struck the Rostov-on-Don submarine in 2024, describing it as the first submarine lost in combat since World War II. He said Russia previously operated six such submarines in the Black Sea but now has fewer remaining.
The Varshavyanka-class submarine is a low-noise, multi-purpose diesel-electric vessel designed for stealth operations. It is armed with six 533-mm torpedo tubes and can launch torpedoes or Kalibr cruise missiles through those tubes.
The incident comes amid renewed maritime activity in the Black Sea, where recent operations have included drone and UAV strikes, particularly around Crimea and Novorossiysk. Recent attacks have targeted mainly infrastructure and naval facilities within the region.
Russia maintains that the Ukrainian attack did not succeed and that no vessels at the Novorossiysk naval base sustained damage.
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