Russia shields nuclear submarines with anti-drone nets in Kamchatka
Satellite images capture anti-drone nets on Russian nuclear submarines (Photo: STERNENKO/Telegram)
Russia has begun protecting its nuclear submarines with anti-drone nets on the Kamchatka Peninsula, about 7,400 kilometers from Ukraine, Ukrainian drone warfare adviser Serhii Sternenko said, citing satellite images from Vantor on May 14.
“After Operation Cobweb, the Russians began protecting their submarines even 7,400 kilometers (4,600 miles) from Ukraine,” Serhii Sternenko wrote on his Telegram channel.
Satellite images of the Rybachiy naval base on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula show anti-drone nets installed on at least two nuclear submarines of the Borei and Borei-A classes.
Sternenko said Rybachiy is the main base for Russia’s Pacific Fleet nuclear submarines, from which the vessels depart on long-range patrols in the Pacific Ocean.
Each submarine carries 16 RSM-56 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles. The base also hosts carriers of Russian cruise missiles.
According to Defense Express, the entire exposed upper section of Borei and Borei-A submarines has been covered with nets.
Analysts said the nets are specifically intended to protect against drones, since they do not appear to serve any other purpose, such as camouflage.
At the same time, Defense Express noted that the nets would not protect the submarines from long-range drone strikes and are more likely intended to defend against dropped munitions and FPV drones.
“This clearly shows how much last year’s Operation Cobweb frightened them, to the point that they decided to ‘cope cage’ their nuclear submarines — carriers of nuclear weapons — 7,200 kilometers (4,475 miles) from Ukraine, in a closed military town that also serves as Russia’s main Pacific nuclear submarine base,” the analysts said.
On June 1, 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine carried out the large-scale Operation Cobweb targeting Russian strategic aviation aircraft.
On June 2, the SBU said simultaneous strikes on four military airfields deep inside Russia had damaged 41 aircraft, including A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 planes.
The operation took a year and a half to prepare. The SBU first smuggled FPV drones into Russia, followed by mobile wooden cabins. The drones were hidden under the roofs of the cabins mounted on trucks. At the designated moment, the roofs were opened remotely and the drones launched to attack Russian aircraft.
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