The Intelligence of the UK Ministry of Defence has released an analysis of the consequences of the Ukrainian unmanned underwater vehicle attack on the russian port of Novorossiysk.
This is reported in the daily review of British intelligence.
The report recalls that on the night of December 15, the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out an "unprecedented uncrewed underwater vehicle strike" on a russian Varshavyanka submarine, which was stationed at the naval base in Novorossiysk in the eastern Black Sea.
"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. This submarine is a Kalibr missile capable platform which was used in strikes against targets in Ukraine," the British intelligence service said.
The report also indicates that, according to open sources, as of December 18, the affected submarine was still in the port. At the same time, other russian ships left the Novorossiysk naval base "as a cautionary measure to mitigate against potential further Ukrainian strikes."
The UK Ministry of Defense emphasizes that "Ukraine's successful strike, penetrating Novorossiysk's multi-layered defences, emphatically demonstrates the rapidly developing proficiency and capability of Ukraine's maritime force, particularly utilising uncrewed systems."
According to analysts, such actions could "significantly undermine the Russian military leadership's confidence in Russia's Black Sea Fleet force protection measures."
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, a Ukrainian underwater drone severely damaged a russian submarine in Novorossiysk. The submarine can be repaired only in Sevastopol, but due to the risks of its repair, the russian battle fleet is now in a difficult situation.
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