Russian Submarine Surfaces In Mediterranean After Fuel Leak Creates Explosion Risk

A Russian diesel-electric attack submarine, Novorossiysk, suffered a serious technical malfunction while on combat duty in the Mediterranean Sea, forcing it to surface near the Strait of Gibraltar.

Per reports, the incident has caused fuel to leak inside the vessel, creating a dangerous risk of explosion and raising concerns about potential environmental impact.

According to Russian Telegram channel VChk-OGPU, which is known for reporting insider information from Russian security forces, the malfunction occurred on September 27.

Damage to the submarine’s fuel system reportedly caused diesel fuel to enter the hold through the bilge compartment. This accumulation of fuel inside the submarine has made the situation highly volatile.

Sources cited by the channel said the crew lacked both spare parts and the trained specialists needed to repair the system. As a result, the submarine has remained on the surface.

The crew is reportedly considering pumping the fuel directly into the sea to prevent a catastrophic explosion, a measure that could cause environmental harm in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

The Novorossiysk is a 242-foot-long (74-metre) Kilo-class submarine and part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. It is designed to carry nuclear-capable Kalibr cruise missiles, although it is believed to be unarmed at present. The submarine can stay submerged for up to 45 days and has a crew of about 52 sailors.

The exact location of the incident has not been officially confirmed, but eyewitness reports and ship tracking systems placed the submarine in the Mediterranean near Gibraltar. Russian authorities have yet to comment publicly on the situation.

Military bloggers said the incident could have serious consequences. A source on the submarine told them that fuel was leaking directly into the hold and the crew could not repair it, making the situation critical.

This incident has been compared to the 2000 Kursk disaster, when the Russian Oscar II-class submarine exploded and sank in the Barents Sea, killing all 118 crew members. Although the problems are different, the risk of an explosion on Novorossiysk has raised international concern.

British Royal Navy sources said they are closely watching the submarine, which is near the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the busiest maritime chokepoints in the world. Naval forces from several countries have placed the vessel under close surveillance, given the potential threat it poses to safety and security in the region.

The Novorossiysk is a Kilo-class submarine, the same type as the Rostov-on-Don, which Ukraine reportedly destroyed in August 2024. Both are important to Russia’s nuclear-capable submarine fleet.

Adding to the tension, Ukraine recently launched a drone strike on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk, which killed two people and led to a state of emergency. While port operations and exports of oil and grain continued with minimal disruption, the attack has intensified scrutiny of Russian naval movements in the region.

References: economictimes, theweek

Source: Maritime Shipping News