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WED · 2025-12-17 · 16:19 GMTBRIEF NSR-2025-1217-3114
News/Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, /Ukraine says it carried out first-ever underwater drone stri…
NSR-2025-1217-3114News Report·EN·National Security

Ukraine says it carried out first-ever underwater drone strike on Russian submarine in Novorossiysk

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) claimed responsibility for an underwater drone strike on a Russian Kilo-class submarine docked in Novorossiysk, Russia. The SBU stated the "Sub Sea Baby" drone critically damaged the submarine, which is equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles.

Ashley CarnahanFox News - WorldFiled 2025-12-17 · 16:19 GMTLean · Center-RightRead · 2 min
Ukraine says it carried out first-ever underwater drone strike on Russian submarine in Novorossiysk
Fox News - WorldFIG 01
Reading time
2min
Word count
342words
Sources cited
5cited
Entities identified
6entities
Quality score
100%
§ 01

Briefing Summary

AI-generated
NEWSAR · AI

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) claimed responsibility for an underwater drone strike on a Russian Kilo-class submarine docked in Novorossiysk, Russia. The SBU stated the "Sub Sea Baby" drone critically damaged the submarine, which is equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles. The attack, a joint operation with the Ukrainian Navy, marks the first known underwater drone strike. The Novorossiysk base has become a refuge for Russia's fleet amid increased Ukrainian strikes on Sevastopol. While Russia denied any damage, Ukraine asserts the submarine was forced to remain in Novorossiysk due to previous Ukrainian operations. The strike occurred as Russia continues drone and missile attacks on Ukraine and as Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with U.S. officials to discuss security guarantees.

Confidence 0.90Sources 5Claims 5Entities 6
§ 02

Article analysis

Model · rule-based
Framing
National Security
Conflict
Tone
Measured
AI-assessed
CalmNeutralAlarmist
Factuality
0.80 / 1.00
Factual
LowHigh
Sources cited
5
Well sourced
FewMany
§ 03

Key claims

5 extracted
01

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet denied the strike caused any damage.

factualRussia’s Black Sea Fleet
Confidence
0.90
02

The submarine was equipped with four launchers for Kalibr cruise missiles.

factualSBU
Confidence
0.90
03

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said its 'Sub Sea Baby' underwater drones struck a Russian submarine.

factualSBU
Confidence
0.90
04

Ukraine carried out an underwater drone strike on a Russian Kilo-class submarine in Novorossiysk.

factualUkraine
Confidence
0.90
05

Underwater drones are the next evolution in drone warfare.

quoteBrett Velicovich
Confidence
0.70
§ 04

Full report

2 min read · 342 words
Ukraine said Monday it carried out an underwater drone strike that critically damaged a Russian Kilo-class submarine docked in the port of Novorossiysk, marking the first known attack of its kind. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said its "Sub Sea Baby" underwater drones struck a Russian submarine equipped with four launchers for Kalibr cruise missiles used to target Kyiv and other parts of the country. The operation was carried out by the Ukrainian Navy and the SBU's 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence. Video released by the SBU showed several ships docked at the Novorossiysk naval base in Russia’s Krasnodar region before a large explosion occurred. EX-CIA STATION CHIEF WARNS PUTIN USING TALKS TO GAIN LEVERAGE AS Ukraine DELEGATION MEETS TOP TRUMP OFFICIALS The base has become a key refuge for Russia’s fleet as Ukraine intensifies strikes on Sevastopol and other occupied Crimean ports. The SBU said the submarine had been forced to remain in Novorossiysk because of other Ukrainian operations, including the use of Sea Baby surface drones that drove Russia’s Black Sea Fleet out of Sevastopol Bay. A spokesperson for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet denied the strike caused any damage, writing on Telegram that no submarines or crews were harmed. PUTIN CALLS TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN A ‘STARTING POINT’ AS HE WARNS Ukraine TO PULL BACK OR FACE 'FORCE' "[Ukraine] once again proved that minnows can swallow sharks using innovation," drone expert Brett Velicovich told Fox News Digital. "Underwater drones are the next evolution in drone warfare." The submarine strike comes as Russia continues to launch large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukraine and as the United States works to end Russian President Vladimir Putin ’s war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his negotiating team met in Berlin on Sunday with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelenskyy also held talks with European leaders earlier in the week on a broader political framework to end the war, secure long-term protections for Ukraine and support the country’s postwar recovery.
§ 05

Entities

6 identified
§ 06

Keywords & salience

9 terms
underwater drone strike
1.00
ukraine
0.90
russian submarine
0.80
novorossiysk
0.70
drone warfare
0.60
kalibr cruise missiles
0.50
black sea fleet
0.50
security service of ukraine
0.40
war
0.40
§ 07

Topic connections

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