Ukraine's strikes on Russian submarine: Satellite images capture damage
Illustrative photo: The SBU struck a Russian submarine with a drone (GettyImages)
Satellite images of the site of the Ukrainian underwater drone attack on a Russian submarine show that the explosion occurred several dozen meters from the target, Radio Liberty reports.
Photographs taken on December 16 show damage to the pier near the submarine's berth. At the same time, the submarine itself, which the Ukrainian side had previously claimed had been damaged, remains in the same place.
It is difficult to assess the extent of possible damage to the boat from satellite images. However, the available footage suggests that there was no direct hit by an underwater drone on the submarine's hull.
Russia, for its part, claims that the attack did not cause any damage to either the submarine or its crew.
Varshavyanka-class submarine
The Project 636.3 Varshavyanka submarine is a diesel-electric multi-purpose submarine designed with a maximum emphasis on low noise and stealth. In the 636.3 version, the boat received an improved hydroacoustic shell.
Its armament includes six 533 mm torpedo tubes, which can be used to launch both torpedoes and cruise missiles. In particular, these submarines are capable of carrying and launching Kalibr missiles — usually up to four units, which are launched through torpedo tubes.
On December 15, it became known that drones of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) attacked a Russian submarine in the port of Novorossiysk. This is the first recorded case of a drone strike on a submarine in history.
Later, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said that preparations for the attack on the Russian submarine Varshavyanka in the port of Novorossiysk were complex and multi-layered.
