Ukraine claims strike on Russian submarine with underwater drones

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 -Ukraine has claimed it carried out a successful strike on a Russian submarine using underwater drones, marking a potential escalation in maritime warfare capabilities. 

Ukrainian officials say the operation targeted a naval asset in contested waters, signaling a growing ability to challenge Russian forces beyond land and air domains. Moscow has not confirmed the claim.

If verified, the strike would underscore Ukraine’s expanding use of unmanned systems to offset Russia’s numerical and naval advantages. 

Underwater drones, designed for stealth and precision, represent a high-impact, low-cost threat to traditional naval power and could force Russia to rethink port security and fleet deployment strategies.

The claim adds urgency to an already volatile conflict as both sides race to innovate. With naval assets now increasingly vulnerable, the use of underwater drones could reshape the balance in the Black Sea and beyond, accelerating a shift toward unmanned warfare with global implications.