A Russian Kilo-class submarine is at risk of exploding after suffering a serious fuel leak in European waters. The 242-foot (74-meter) vessel, named Novorossiysk, is part of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, and was spotted on September 26 in the Strait of Gibraltar.
According to a post by the Russian Telegram channel VChk-OGPU, the submarine’s crew lacks both the spare parts and the specialist expertise to fix the leak. Fuel has reportedly begun accumulating inside the hull, raising the risk of detonation. As a last resort, the crew may be forced to pump the fuel directly into the sea.
The Novorossiysk is capable of carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, but is not believed to be involved in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Earlier this year, the submarine was closely monitored by the UK’s Royal Navy as it passed through the North Sea and the English Channel.
Submarines remain among the most hazardous environments for sailors, where technical failures can quickly escalate into catastrophe. Click on and dive through this gallery of catastrophic underwater accidents.