Russia has equipped submarines at a major Black Sea base with anti-drone cages in an apparent effort to protect them from Ukrainian deep strikes, according to a new Western intelligence assessment.
Britain’s defense ministry said on Friday that an analysis of satellite imagery dated between June 6 and 9 revealed counter-drone cages covering the conning towers of three Kilo-class submarines at the Novorossiysk naval base.
Britain said “it is almost certain” that a fourth submarine at the base will receive similar equipment. A satellite image published by the defense ministry showed two of the vessels outfitted with cages.
In a routine intelligence update on Russia’s invasion, Britain said the activity is “almost certainly being conducted as a preventive measure in response to Ukraine’s increasing ability to strike targets further from the front line” with drones.
Russia’s defense ministry and its US embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Britain’s assessment.
Novorossiysk has become the hub for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet after an intensive Ukrainian strike campaign earlier in the war forced Moscow to pull warships and other assets from a long-held base at Sevastopol, on the occupied Crimean peninsula.
Ukraine has carried out a number of attacks against the Novorossiysk base with drones, particularly exploding uncrewed boats. Russia has tried to defend the naval base by placing barriers in the water. The anti-drone cages underscore new efforts to protect its submarines, though they are primarily designed to counter aerial threats.
Cage armor is a common tactic on the battlefield, often used to give tanks and armored vehicles extra protection against small drones or shrapnel. However, it is unusual to be covering a boat, especially a submarine.
Anti-drone netting is also used to protect infrastructure, such as key supply routes near the front lines in Ukraine, and energy facilities and weapons production buildings in Russia.
Britain’s assessment of the cages in Novorossiysk comes as Ukraine has ramped up its long-range missile and drone strikes inside Russia.
The campaign, which Ukrainian officials often refer to as “long-range sanctions,” has primarily targeted Russian energy sites. Kyiv said on Tuesday that it carried out more than a dozen such attacks in June.
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