Satellite images show Russia added more anti-drone nets to its submarines at a Pacific base thousands of miles from Ukraine

Aug 06, 2026 08:07 PM - 1 month ago 364

Anti-drone netting complete submarines astatine Rybachiy successful August.

Russia has expanded its usage of anti-drone netting astatine a awesome naval hub connected the Pacific Ocean. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor.

Russia has expanded its usage of anti-drone nets to protect submarines astatine a awesome naval guidelines connected the Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles from Ukraine and the country's arsenal of onslaught drones, according to caller outer imagery analyzed by Business Insider.

The caller images, collected connected Tuesday by the US spatial intelligence patient Vantor, show much than half a twelve submarines covered by anti-drone netting astatine the Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base connected Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.

Imagery from May shows only 2 submarines covered pinch netting astatine the base, which serves arsenic the cardinal hub for the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet and hosts nuclear-powered ballistic-missile and onslaught submarines.

Anti-drone netting complete submarines astatine the Rybachiy naval guidelines successful May.

Anti-drone netting covering 2 submarines astatine Rybachiy successful May.  Satellite image ©2026 Vantor.

An overview of anti-drone netting complete submarines astatine Rybachiy successful August.

Multiple submarines covered successful anti-drone netting successful August.  Satellite image ©2026 Vantor.

Although Rybachiy lies much than 4,500 miles eastbound of Ukraine, the anti-drone netting mirrors defenses Russia has deployed overmuch person to the warfare to shield Black Sea accommodation and naval assets.

The quality of these defenses truthful acold from the conflict suggests Russia sees its vulnerability to drone attacks extending good beyond the contiguous fighting, including to its Pacific Fleet.

Ukrainian forces person demonstrated that they tin strike heavy into Russia, launching drones astatine targets complete 1,000 miles wrong force territory.

Ukraine has besides carried retired distant attacks against targets astatine overmuch greater distances by launching onslaught drones not from its ain territory, but from wrong Russia. In the June 2025 Operation Spiderweb, drones swarmed Russian aerial bases successful the Arctic, Siberia, and moreover successful the acold east, adjacent China's northeastern border.

Anti-drone netting complete submarines astatine Rybachiy successful August.

A close-up image of the submarines astatine Rybachiy.  Satellite image ©2026 Vantor.

Anti-drone netting complete submarines astatine Rybachiy successful August.

Russia has expanded its usage of anti-drone netting astatine a awesome naval hub connected the Pacific Ocean.  Satellite image ©2026 Vantor.

Russia's defense ministry and its US embassy did not instantly respond to a petition for remark connected the added defenses.

Vantor imagery from June shows that Russia has besides equipped astatine slightest 3 submarines with counter-drone cages — which shield their conning towers — astatine the Novorossiysk naval base successful southwestern Krasnodar Krai. This installation serves arsenic the homeport for Moscow's Black Sea Fleet and has been many times targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks.

Britain's defense ministry said successful an intelligence update connected Tuesday that these cages were "applied arsenic a preventive measurement successful consequence to Ukraine's accrued expertise to onslaught targets further from the beforehand line."

Ukraine has utilized its exploding oversea drones to onslaught Novorossiysk, and successful response, Russia has tried to take sides the guidelines by placing ample barriers successful the water. Anti-drone cages correspond a caller effort to protect naval assets, chiefly designed to antagonistic aerial attacks.

Coverings connected partially submerged submarines astatine Novorossiysk successful June.

Three submarines pinch anti-drone cages covering their conning towers astatine Novorossiysk.  Satellite image ©2026 Vantor.

Cage armor has go a communal maneuver connected the battlefield. Early versions were added to tanks and different armored vehicles to supply further protection against drones aliases shrapnel. It has since spread, overmuch for illustration the anti-drone netting.

Across Ukraine, soldiers person strung up netting to cover logistics and proviso routes successful an effort to shield vehicles from drone strikes.

Russia has progressively turned to anti-drone cages and netting to protect infrastructure and assets specified arsenic energy facilities, weapons accumulation buildings, and, much recently, submarines.

Russian efforts travel arsenic Ukraine has importantly ramped up its long-range drone strikes wrong Russia. These attacks person traditionally targeted power and subject facilities, though Kyiv has progressively focused its efforts connected Russian e-commerce warehouses.

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