Russian cruise missiles submarines out in force: Ukraine navy

• Russia’s deployed three of its cruise missile submarines to the larger Black Sea area, Ukraine says.
• The Black Sea Fleet has six improved Kilo-class subs, including one that was damaged by Ukraine last year.
• The fleet’s surface vessels have abandoned its base in Crimea amid major Ukrainian missile strikes.

The Russian navy has simultaneously deployed three of its cruise missile submarines in waters within the general Black Sea area, Ukraine’s navy says.

The subs, likely improved Kilo-class vessels, are out in force just weeks after the last Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol boat left its base in Crimea following relentless Ukrainian attacks. Russia has withdrawn many of its surface vessels to less vulnerable positions.

But the submarine force is still active. Dmytro Pletenchuk, a Ukrainian navy spokesperson, posted on Facebook Monday that Russia, for the first time, had sent out three subs carrying cruise missiles at once in the Azov-Black Sea region.

He signaled this is the main Russian naval threat at the moment. Referencing surface ship losses, he said that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been “called a submarine fleet,” adding that “now, it’s true.”

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has six improved Kilo-class submarines. One, the Rostov-on-Don, was damaged last fall by an apparent Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missile fired by Ukraine. The Kilo subs are diesel-electric attack vessels capable of carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, torpedoes, and naval mines.

In late June, Pletenchuk shared that Russian warships were launching missiles from the Sea of Azov, a smaller body of water north of the Black Sea surrounded by Russian territory, because they deemed it a safer firing point than the Black Sea. Then, last week, Pletenchuk noted on Facebook that Russia had pulled its ships out of the Sea of Azov.

At the time, Pletenchuk said that it seemed that Russia had begun “to suspect something,” potentially referencing Ukraine’s increasingly intense attacks in the Black Sea region. Ukrainian naval officials have said in recent months that strikes in Crimea and around the Black Sea have forced the Russian navy to change its posture.

Business Insider was unable to independently verify Ukraine’s claims, but there have been indications of notable changes in force presence at Russian naval bases.

Ukraine conducted several high-profile strikes on the port of Sevastopol and some Russian vessels and submarines, including the Rostov-on-Don, last year. Coupled with the drone boat attacks, these triggered the withdrawal of the Black Sea Fleet to other bases in the area. Satellite images obtained by Business Insider have documented the ongoing dispersal of Russia’s naval forces in the area.

Lacking a traditional naval force able to compete with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Ukraine has relied on drone boats and missiles to defeat Russian ships in the Black Sea.

Successes in the Black Sea have been a bright spot for Ukraine amid a grinding ground fight. Ukraine has seen little success in reclaiming occupied Russian territory, such as during its failed 2023 counteroffensive, but has largely, losses like Avdiivka earlier this year aside, been able to hold the line against Russian offensive efforts.

The Black Sea has been a different story. In late June, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the Ukrainians had sunk or damaged at least 24 Russian vessels in the Black Sea.

Countering the serious threat posed by Russian cruise missile submarines operating in the region is a more difficult challenge than targeting and engaging surface ships.