PUTIN’S submarine branded a potential “floating bomb” is creeping home through the English Channel under the close watch of Nato warships.
The limping sub’s sighting near the UK comes after reports it risked exploding in the Mediterranean.
East2WestA Russian submarine, Novorossiysk, is transiting the English Channel under Nato’s close watch[/caption]
The 243-ft diesel-electric attack sub Novorossiysk is part of Putin’s Black Sea Fleet and potentially capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
It has been forced to travel on the surface, escorted by a Russian tugboat, after suffering serious technical failures on a mission in the Med.
According to Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, the vessel has fuel leaking directly into its hold, creating “an explosive hazard” and leaving the crew scrambling to contain the danger.
The channel, which has links to intelligence sources, reported: “There are no spare parts for repairs or qualified specialists on the submarine, and the crew is unable to fix the malfunctions.
“Other problems have begun to occur due to the serious accident.
“The fuel accumulated in the hold is an explosive hazard.”
The alarming reports suggest the crew has no option but to pump the fuel overboard directly into the sea.
Despite the growing fears, Moscow has denied any “malfunction and emergency surfacing” – though it stopped short of ruling out technical problems.
The Black Sea Fleet insisted the Novorossiysk is on a “scheduled inter-fleet transit” and that submarines “pass through the Strait of Dover exclusively on the surface” under navigation rules.
The stricken 3,100-tonne Varshavyanka-class sub has been closely tailed by Nato navies as it limps north.
French, British, Belgian and Dutch warships tracked it past Brittany, through the Channel and into the North Sea.
Nato’s Maritime Command issued a blunt warning – “We are watching” – without alluding to alleged technical problems on the vessel.
The Netherlands took over escort duties from Britain, deploying navy vessel Zr. Ms. Luymes, an NH90 combat helicopter, and coast guard ships.
East2WestNato Maritime Command’s sent a warning to the Russian sub: ‘We are watching’[/caption]
East2WestThe submarine is reportedly experiencing serious technical issues, including a fuel leak[/caption]
East2WestThe Russian Novorossiysk diesel-electric attack submarine (bottom) seen off the coast of Brittany on October 6, 2025[/caption]
A Dutch defense spokesperson said: “The Netherlands shows vigilance and prevents Russian ships from sabotaging undersea infrastructure.”
Earlier, a French frigate and Belgian patrol vessel BNS Castor had shadowed the sub.
And a US Navy patrol plane had tracked it for days off Gibraltar as it began its slow return to Russia.
The Novorossiysk is now believed to be heading for a Baltic Sea port, still dogged by the problems first reported in the Med.
Kursk submarine disaster
THE fears over the Novorossiysk sub are a chilling echo of one of Russia’s darkest naval disasters — the sinking of the Kursk submarine in 2000.
On August 12, 2000, the Oscar II-class sub exploded and sank in the Barents Sea during Russia’s first major naval exercise in over a decade.
A leak of hydrogen peroxide inside a Type 65-76A torpedo triggered a deadly blast in the forward torpedo room.
Moments later, a second, far more powerful explosion ripped the vessel apart and sent it plunging to the seabed.
All 118 crew members were killed.
The catastrophe — and Moscow’s slow, chaotic response — shocked the world and remains a searing reminder of the risks lurking aboard Russia’s submarines.