Kyiv (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Satellite images show damage at Novorossiysk pier after Ukraine claims an underwater drone hit a Russian submarine, though damage extent is unclear.
As reported by Adam Durbin of the BBC, new satellite imagery shows visible damage to the nearby pier at Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, after Ukraine claimed on Monday, 15 December, that it struck a submarine moored there using an underwater drone.
What did satellite images reveal about Ukraine’s alleged strike on Russian submarines?
Images captured on 11 December, just days before the reported strike, reveal three submarines docked inside a quay, alongside several warships.
A separate picture from 16 December shows only one submarine inside the quay, positioned next to an area of significant damage.
According to images, a second submarine appears along the exterior quay, and a third is moored farther south on a separate pier, which is not visible in the composite above. It remains unclear whether these are the same submarines previously seen inside the quay.
Bradley Martin, a leading policy researcher at Rand, says the submarine seen inside the quay on 16 December is believed to be the one reportedly struck.
He observed that the vessel appears to be sitting lower in the water, which could indicate damage; however, he stressed that both the images and Ukraine’s video of the explosion remain inconclusive.
Mr Martin added,
“Submarines are intended to operate at depth and endure explosive shocks,”
Martin adds.
“An explosion next to the submarine would look spectacular, but we’d need to know a lot more before concluding that the sub is sunk or even severely damaged.”
What did Ukraine say about its underwater drone strike on a Russian submarine at Novorossiysk?
Earlier this week, on Monday, the Ukrainian military said it destroyed a $400 million Russian submarine in an unprecedented attack on Russia’s key Black Sea base at Novorossiysk.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s advisor Alexander Kamyshin, the strike marks the first time an underwater drone has neutralised a submarine.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated in a statement,
“As a result of the explosion, the submarine suffered critical damage and was effectively put out of action.”
Moscow confirmed the attack on its Kilo-class submarine by Sub Sea Baby drones but denied any damage to its vessels, according to CNN.
Alexei Rulev, head of the Black Sea Fleet press service, said,
“The enemy’s attempt to carry out sabotage using an unmanned underwater vehicle failed to achieved its goals.”
Ukraine’s naval fleet has been nearly depleted amid the ongoing war with Russia, forcing Kyiv to rely on sea drones and missiles to challenge Russia’s large Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea.
According to the SBU, the diesel-electric submarine was used to launch Kalibr cruise missiles, up to four at a time. These weapons have been used to target Kyiv’s infrastructure. Russia was reportedly forced to move it, along with other vessels, from Crimea to Novorossiysk in southern Russia.
The SBU reports that the Russian Kilo-class 636.3 submarine, known as the “Black Hole” for its sonar-evading and sound-absorbing capabilities, may cost up to $500 million to rebuild due to international sanctions.
How are diplomatic talks in Berlin shaping the Ukraine-Russia peace effort?
Diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine-Russia war have intensified significantly, with US-brokered talks in Berlin reaching a “critical moment.” While US officials suggest a peace deal is “closer than ever”, major sticking points regarding territory and security remain unresolved.
High-level discussions between the US, Ukraine, and European leaders took place in Berlin. American officials claimed that 90% of a peace plan has been thrashed out, though Ukraine warned that key issues, specifically territorial control, remain unaddressed without a final consensus.
In a major shift, President Zelensky signaled that Ukraine is willing to forego its bid to join NATO in exchange for “robust” and “legally binding” security guarantees from Western allies, similar to NATO’s Article 5.
The UN OHCHR has documented at least 14,534 civilians killed in Ukraine as of October 31, 2025. It notes the real figure is “considerably higher” due to limited access to occupied areas like Mariupol.
Some Ukrainian officials estimate civilian deaths could reach 100,000 once all territories are liberated.