EuroMaidan – Russia planned a major campaign in 2026 involving the use of naval drones. But these plans collapsed after SpaceX, at Kyiv’s request, blocked Russian access to Starlink satellite communications, says advisor to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov.

War on the Rocks – By effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has demonstrated that a chokepoint vital for global trade can be closed with drone attacks, insurance repricing, and the self-interested logic of shipping companies. The lesson for Europe is immediate: Russia could employ the same mechanism to close key maritime chokepoints at the Danish or Turkish Straits.

Covert Shores – Russia is investing heavily in a new generation of “super weapons” designed to bypass and potentially nullify conventional defenses. Foremost among them is Poseidon, an autonomous, nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed underwater weapon with effectively intercontinental range. Details about its newest dedicated carrier submarine, Khabarovsk, are only gradually coming into focus.

Forces News – When you hear about Russian subs and warships in UK waters, spying on data cables or testing UK defences, they are probably part of GUGI – the Russian acronym for the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research. Since the end of the Cold War, GUGI has avoided the defence cuts imposed elsewhere, allowing them to pour millions into submarine development. They are effectively Russia’s Special Forces of the sea, who are capable of carrying out extreme deep sea operations.

RUSI – International pressure on flag registries has pushed part of Russia’s shadow fleet directly under Russian registration, potentially exposing news limits of sanctions enforcement.

Defence Security Asia – Capable of diving beyond 550 meters, evading Magnetic Anomaly Detection, and hunting America’s Ohio-class nuclear submarines, Russia’s Sierra-class attack subs remain one of NATO’s most dangerous undersea nightmares.

Covert Shores –  Two Russian Navy KILO Class submarines have been photographed in Kronstadt, the naval base in St Petersburg. The photo reveals details of their anti-drone (aerial drones – UAVs and surface drones – USVs) defences.

Naval News – On paper, the Russian Navy remains the dominant force in the Black Sea. But after ceding control to Ukraine’s uncrewed surface drones, it now faces a mounting crisis: its key base at Novorossiysk is increasingly untenable, unless Moscow is willing to absorb further warship losses.

Barents Observer – The manoeuvres of Russian fishing vessels in northern Norwegian waters are blurring the line between seeking shelter from bad weather and potential intelligence-gathering.

United 24 – Russia has modified one of its Ministry of Defense research vessels with visible anti-drone protections in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, highlighting growing concerns over Ukrainian unmanned attacks at sea.

(Thanks to Alain)

The Barents Observer – Karelia is the submarine on which Vladimir Putin – then acting president – spent a night at a depth of 50 metres in the Barents Sea in April 2000. Now upgraded, the vessel is preparing for deterrence patrols and is expected to remain in service until 2038.

Naval News – At around 28,000 tons Russia’s Kirov-class is the largest and most heavily armed surface combatant in the World. One of these Soviet-era steel titans, Admiral Nakhimov, has recently emerged from a decade-long and hugely expensive modernization, ready to take her place as the pride of the modern Russian Navy. Yet in the meantime drone warfare, like we are seeing the Black Sea, is challenging this investment. But the money has already been spent.

CIMSEC – NATO should not underestimate Russia’s strategic brown water capabilities. The same applies to Japan and South Korea in the event that Moscow, contrary to current indications, intends to use the Amur as a launch area to defend the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. Therefore, it is essential to prepare doctrinally, enhance surveillance techniques, and develop effective countermeasures. This will require more unconventional thinking—for example, the dropping of sea mines, USVs and UUVs from the air or the arming of partisans with portable anti-ship missiles such as the Swedish RBS-17. New doctrine and capabilities can effectively account for this important yet underappreciated dimension of Russian naval influence.

Army Recognition – According to Izvestia, Russia’s Project 09851 nuclear-powered submarine Khabarovsk could begin sea trials in 2026 following completion of outfitting work at the Sevmash shipyard. Designed as a dedicated carrier for the Poseidon nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle, the Khabarovsk was launched in November 2025 and has since entered mooring test preparations.

(Thanks to Alain)

The War Zone – There are longstanding rumors that the Project 23700 class ship may have a secondary function as a luxurious leisure vessel.

Le Parisien – Is the mystery surrounding the sinking of the Ursa Major about to be solved? A little over a year ago, this Russian cargo ship had sunk into international waters, somewhere between Spain and Algeria. On December 23, 2024, the ship was hit by three explosions in the engine room, a “terrorist attack”, according to its owner, the company Oboronloguistika under the Russian Ministry of Defense. Two sailors were then reported missing.

This cargo ship, under US sanctions since 2022, had left St. Petersburg two weeks earlier and was to reach the port of Vladivostok, located in the Russian Far East. At the time, Oboronloguistika had explained that the ship carried mostly empty containers, Liebherr cranes, as well as hatch covers for icebreakers. But according to the investigation by the Spanish authorities, revealed by the media La Verdad, the latter are in fact the envelopes of two VM-4SG nuclear reactors of nearly 65 tons each.

(In French) (Thanks to Alain)

The Guardian – Russia has dispatched naval assets to escort a “shadow fleet” oil tanker being pursued by the US across the Atlantic, according to reports, as tensions over the vessel escalate.

Sri Lanka Guardian – British defence officials have revealed that Russian submarines are being deployed alongside the Moscow-based spy vessel Yantar to monitor and potentially sabotage critical undersea infrastructure near the UK, according to a report in Times UK. The operations, first observed in November last year, included a submarine shadowing the Yantar as it surveyed a gas pipeline connecting Britain and Ireland.

(Thanks to Alain)

Militarnyi – Russia has expanded the 336th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, based in Baltiysk, Kaliningrad region, between Poland and Lithuania, into a division.

(Thanks to Alain)

The War Zone – A Russian Shahed kamikaze drone strike on a ship in the port of Chornomorsk was in retaliation for a recent spate of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea, the Ambrey maritime security firm tells us. The attack on the Turkish-owned CENK-T roll-on, roll-off cargo ship comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned he would “cut Ukraine off from the sea” in response to Ukraine’s stepped-up campaign against Russian commercial shipping. 

The New Arab – Sudan’s government has offered Russia its first naval base in Africa, in exchange for arms, as the military continues to battle the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a renegade militia that Moscow initially supported.

(Thanks to Alain)

The War Zone – Russian-owned oil tanker was attacked in the Black Sea about 80 miles north of the Turkish city of Sinop, according to Turkish and Russian authorities. The strike was “highly likely” carried out by aerial drones, according to the Ambrey maritime security firm. The attack on the Midvolga-2 was the third against Russian-connected ships in the Black Sea in the past three days and came a day after Turkish President Recep Erdogan issued a stark warning that the war in Ukraine was spilling over and endangering navigation.

EuroMaiden – Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reports that the Kremlin has announced a suspension of agreements to establish a naval logistics base in Port Sudan. The base was intended to become Russia’s first full-scale naval facility in Africa since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The suspension highlights Moscow’s limited resources for expanding overseas military infrastructure, as it focuses virtually all of its capabilities on the war in Ukraine.

(Thanks to Alain)

The Guardian – A Russian spy ship has entered British waters and shone lasers at military pilots, the defence secretary has said, as he warned the UK was facing a “new era of threat” from hostile countries.

National Interest – Russia’s “Harmony” project is the latest salvo in the battle between underwater access and anti-access efforts. The United States will need new innovations of its own to fight back.