Panic in Russia as Putin’s paranoid cronies wrap netting round nuclear subs | World | News
Putin has reportedly become increasingly paranoid about enemy attacks lately (Image: Getty)
Russia’s nuclear submarine fleet is now protected from drone attacks despite being nearly 5,000 miles from the front line in Ukraine, in a new sign of Vladimir Putin’s growing paranoia. Satellite images reveal anti-drone networks draped over some of Vladimir Putin’s most important nuclear submarines at a secret Pacific naval base.
The new move shows that the Kremlin fears a Ukrainian sabotage attack on Russia’s Far East. Space images showing the top-secret Rybachiy submarine base on the Kamchatka Peninsula highlight two Borei-class ballistic missile submarines cocooned under fine mesh designed to thwart kamikaze drones. The base is located about 4,600 miles east of the war zone in Ukraine, but Russian commanders are taking no chances.
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A caged Tula submarine. (Image: east2west)
Each Borei-class submarine carries 16 Bulava nuclear missiles with a range of approximately 5,800 miles. “If the nets are deemed practical and necessary, other nuclear submarines are likely to receive this treatment,” Naval News reported.
Seen covered in light netting while anchored in the harbour, the ships appear to be a standard Project 955 Borei submarine, as well as a newer Borei-A variant. The protection is equivalent to the cages currently installed on tanks and armored vehicles, a phenomenon that emerged during the war in Ukraine.
Russian warships in the Black Sea have been photographed equipped with crude metal cages, nets and overhead barriers to prevent Ukrainian FPV drones from dropping explosives on sensitive deck areas – but this is much closer to the war zone. The Rybachiy images mark the first known example of entire nuclear submarines being surrounded by anti-drone protection.
This development comes amid fears that Moscow may attempt another long-range surprise attack similar to Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web; this was a devastating stealth drone attack launched from trucks closer to Russian targets rather than directly on Ukrainian territory.
Na Peredovoy, a prominent pro-war Russian Telegram channel with nearly 450,000 followers, acknowledged the significance of the footage. “Anti-UAV networks have now reached Russia’s nuclear submarines,” the channel wrote.
“It appears that Pacific Fleet commanders are trying to limit the possible consequences of a repeat of Ukraine’s ‘Spider Web’ operation against Russia’s nuclear triad.” But lightweight nets will likely only protect against small FPV drones rather than larger, long-range attack UAVs carrying heavy warheads.
Navy experts say the network could create new dangers for crews in emergency situations. Historically, anti-boarding nets trapped sailors on sinking ships; most famously the VIII, which capsized during battle in 1545 when nets blocked escape routes. He was on Henry’s warship, the Mary Rose.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Image: Getty)
Russia has recently experimented with improvised drone protection measures in its fleet. It has been observed that submarines operating in the Black Sea, Baltic and Arctic have metal mesh installed on their bridge covers to prevent unmanned aerial vehicles from throwing grenades directly into the command compartments.
Off the coast of occupied Crimea this month, the Russian Black Sea Fleet reportedly began installing crude “barbecue” anti-drone structures on Project 21980 Grachonok patrol boats amid ongoing Ukrainian UAV attacks.
The K-114 Tula project submarine, belonging to Russia’s Northern Fleet, with a cage in the control tower, was seen in Gadzhiyevo in the Arctic Murmansk region. New Pacific Fleet defenses show that no part of Russia now feels safe from Ukraine’s rapidly expanding drone warfare capabilities; even Putin’s nuclear arsenal is visible in time zones east of the war zone.
