Ukraine’s military has reported that a Russian submarine was sunk at a Crimean port, representing a significant setback for Moscow in the region. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces announced on Saturday that the Rostov-on-Don submarine was struck in Sevastopol’s port on Friday and sank immediately. They did not provide further evidence to substantiate this claim.
If confirmed, this incident would be a major blow to Russia’s navy, which Ukraine asserts has already lost a third of its Black Sea Fleet. The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on the alleged attack.
According to the General Staff of Ukraine, the sinking of the Rostov-on-Don highlights the lack of safety for the Russian fleet in Ukrainian-controlled Black Sea waters. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry celebrated the event on social media, stating that “a Russian submarine went to the bottom of the Black Sea” after being struck in Sevastopol’s port.
Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the peninsula has experienced occasional attacks from Ukrainian forces. The Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, reported that submarine defense exercises were ongoing and assured that “everything is calm in the city.”
Russian military blogger Boris Rozhin indicated that the ship repair plant in Sevastopol, where the submarine was docked, appears to have been hit. The Rostov-on-Don, a Kilo II-class submarine commissioned in 2014, measures 73.8 meters (242 feet) and is equipped to carry Kalibr cruise missiles. The vessel, powered by diesel-electric engines and with a crew of 52, is an important asset due to its missile capabilities. The destruction of such assets is notable because Kalibr missiles have been used by Russia to target crucial Ukrainian infrastructure, such as power plants.
Ukraine had previously targeted the Rostov-on-Don, which was reportedly “severely damaged” in a missile attack in September 2023. Open-source photos confirmed “catastrophic damage,” although the submarine was later repaired and tested in Sevastopol’s waters.
Ukraine has had notable successes against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet through missile strikes and sea drone attacks, having disabled or destroyed over 20 Russian naval vessels, which is about a third of the fleet. Despite its limited naval capabilities, Ukraine has gained a significant advantage in the Black Sea due to technological innovation and Russian missteps.
Russia’s most significant naval loss occurred with the sinking of the guided-missile cruiser Moskva in April 2022. Satellite imagery from October last year showed that Russia relocated some of its naval ships from Sevastopol following a series of Ukrainian attacks.
In addition to the submarine strike, Ukrainian forces also reported severe damage to four S-400 anti-aircraft missile launchers on Friday. The destruction of these anti-aircraft systems could potentially allow Ukrainian warplanes to target more Russian positions on the occupied peninsula.