Main image: Two Russian Navy Borei Class ballistic missile submarines covered by anti-drone nets at Rybachiy submarine base on the Kamchatka Peninsular in the Pacific, 12th May 2026. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor
Russia has begun protecting nuclear submarines at its Pacific Fleet base “Rybachiy,” located 7,400 km from Ukraine, using anti-drone nets.
This was reported by the defense analysis publication Naval News.
“New satellite imagery reveals anti-drone protections around nuclear submarines, suggesting Russian commanders fear that Ukrainian surprise attacks threaten even their most remote naval assets,” the publication states.
Fresh satellite imagery released by the company Vantor shows two submarines with their upper sections covered by anti-drone netting. One submarine belongs to the Project 955 “Borei” class, while the other is from the newer and improved Project 955A “Borei-A” class.
The Rybachiy base in Kamchatka is the main base for nuclear submarines of Russia’s Pacific Fleet. Submarines stationed there conduct long patrols in the Pacific Ocean. Each submarine carries 16 RSM-56 “Bulava” submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles. The base also hosts cruise-missile submarines and attack submarines.
It is noted that this is not the first time Russian Navy vessels have been equipped with anti-drone protection. Similar “cages” and netting were previously observed on vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, including the experimental ship Seliger and “Grachonok”-class boats.
In addition, Russian submarines in the Black Sea, Baltic, and Arctic regions have also received basic anti-drone protection. It consists of a metal net installed over the conning tower on the upper part of the surfaced vessel, visually resembling a sunshade. It appears designed to prevent drones from dropping small bombs directly into hatches. The net observed at the Rybachiy base is the first of its kind to cover an entire submarine. It does not conceal the vessel and does not interfere with satellite surveillance, the publication notes.
“It seems unlikely that Ukrainian FPV drones will reach the submarine base at Rybachiy. But a surprise attack, launched from much closer to the base like Operation Spiderweb, might be a real threat,’” the publication adds.
