The Security Service of Ukraine has carried out another unique special operation setting off a blast in the port of Novorossiysk, russia. For the first time in history, Sub Sea Baby underwater drones blew up a russian 636.3 Varshavianka-class submarine (Kilo as per NATO classification). As a result of the explosion, the submarine suffered critical damage and was effectively put out of action.

On board the submarine were four launchers for Kalibr cruise missiles, which russia has used to strike Ukrainian territory.

This was a joint operation of the 13th Main Directorate of the SSU Military Counterintelligence and the Ukrainian Navy.

The cost of a Varshavianka-class submarine is approximately USD 400 million. Given the international sanctions in place, the construction of a similar submarine could now cost up to USD 500 million. This class of vessels is also known as ‘black hole’ because of the hull’s ability to absorb sound and remain undetectable to sonar.

The submarine had been forced to stay in the port of Novorossiysk due to successful special operations by the SSU’s Sea Baby surface drones, which drove the enemy fleet out of Sevastopol Bay in the temporarily occupied Crimea.