Last week, the Ukrainian security services landed a major victory when an underwater suicide drone hit a Russian attack submarine at port.  

Now, the post-battle assessment is out, and, according to Western intelligence estimates, the Russian submarine suffered significant damage and is out of action.  

Overnight on December 14-15, the Ukrainian security services (SBU) used an underwater suicide drone to penetrate the Russian defenses in the port of Novorossiysk Naval Base and strike the docked B-271 Kolpino, a Kilo-class attack submarine.  

“The strike, utilising, a ‘Sub Sea Baby’ has likely resulted in significant damage to the submarine, leaving it unable to sail of its own accord or deploy,” the British Ministry of Defense assessed in its latest intelligence update on the Ukrainian conflict.  

“As of 18 December 2025, open source reporting indicates the submarine as still docked in port in the same position it was at the time of the strike, and that other Russian vessels have dispersed from Novorossiysk Naval Base as a cautionary measure to mitigate against potential........

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