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35 Days Later, Russian Submarine Hit by Ukrainian Drone Still Hasn’t Moved—Despite Moscow’s Denials
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
A newly released satellite image of Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk shows that a Russian submarine targeted by a Ukrainian underwater drone has not moved from its berth more than a month after the strike, casting fresh doubt on Moscow’s claims that the vessel suffered no damage, according to the image, published by journalist Mark Krutov of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on January 19.
Satellite image shows the submarine in the same position it occupied at the time of the attack, despite repeated Russian assertions that the vessel remained fully operational.
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According to Krutov, Russian officials continue to insist that the submarine was unaffected by the Ukrainian strike, which occurred 35 days earlier. However, the satellite imagery indicates that the boat has not departed the naval base since the incident.
The submarine in question is a Project 636.3 Kilo-class diesel-electric boat, which Ukrainian forces say was struck and critically disabled by a Ukrainian underwater drone inside the Novorossiysk naval base.
35 days after a Ukrainian naval drone strike on the port of Novorossiysk, a Russian submarine – described as 'completely intact' after the strike by the Russian Ministry of Defense – has not moved a single inch, as a @planet satellite image taken today, January 19, shows. pic.twitter.com/YhP34MAcVH
— Mark Krutov (@kromark) January 19, 2026
Ukrainian analysts argue that the damage likely rendered the submarine effectively inoperable, particularly given Russia’s limited ability to conduct complex submarine repairs in the Black Sea region.
Ukrainian sources have also suggested that fragments from the explosion may have damaged a second submarine moored nearby at the time of the attack, though Moscow has not acknowledged any losses or damage.
While Russia’s Ministry of Defense has publicly maintained that the submarine remained “completely intact,” the continued immobility of the vessel has fueled skepticism among analysts and open-source intelligence observers, who note that operational submarines are rarely left idle for extended periods following routine inspections.
Earlier, Russia formally commissioned a new rescue tug into its navy, a move that comes as Moscow continues to absorb heavy losses to its Black Sea Fleet after repeated Ukrainian strikes.
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-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
