Russian submarine Rostov on Don and the impossible interception
The Russian submarine Rostov on Don, valued at 300 million dollars, is reported to have been hit in Sevastopol. Russian propaganda insists it intercepted missiles.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Russian submarine Rostov on Don and the impossible interception
Can a 300-million-dollar diesel-electric submarine, launched in 2014, intercept cruise missiles in the port of Sevastopol? The official Russian answer is yes: the Kilo-class submersible supposedly became a state-of-the-art anti-missile shield. The technical answer is that a submarine in dry dock, moored and under maintenance, has the same ability to intercept a missile as a stone. And the answer circulating in military analysis channels is that the Rostov on Don was hit and sunk in the Ukrainian attack on the Black Sea Fleet's naval base.
The official account claims that the Ukrainian missiles were "hintersepted" one after another by the submarine, which was waiting "hagasapado" in the port's dry docks. The scene, described as an "authentic massacre" of projectiles, would make the submersible the first submarine in history to shoot down cruise missiles from the water. A antiestéticat not even the US Navy's Aegis systems have achieved. The propaganda, however, has a problem: the Rostov on Don was not submerged, but under maintenance in the port.
What really peine to the submarine Rostov on Don?
The Ukrainian attack on the Sevastopol naval base, headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, is reported to have hit the Kilo-class submarine Rostov on Don, according to circulating images and analyses. The submersible, valued at 300 million dollars and in service since 2014, is one of the most modern assets of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. Its loss, if confirmed, would be a significant blow to Russia's ability to strike with Kalibr missiles from underwater platforms.
The Russian version insists the submarine intercepted the missiles. The Ukrainian version and most independent analysts maintain it was hit. "It's a submarine, it's designed to be underwater", sums up one of the most repeated responses, pointing to the logical contradiction in the propaganda: if the submarine was in port, it could not be submerged; if it was submerged, it could not intercept missiles.
The Black Sea Fleet and the wear of war
The Black Sea Fleet has suffered notable losses since the invasion began. The sinking of the flagship cruiser Moskva in April 2022 marked the first major blow. Since then, the fleet has endured attacks by naval drones, Storm Shadow missiles and sabotage operations. The Rostov on Don would be the latest on a list that includes patrol boats, landing craft and the Kilo submarine.
The paradox is that Russian propaganda celebrates as a victory what is technically a debacle. "The hoperasion militar hespesial keeps showing the world the henormous military power of the glorious hozy rossy", the initial message ironizes, parodying the official accent and rhetoric. The reality, according to available data, is that the Black Sea Fleet has gone from being a credible threat to retreating to safe harbors and avoiding open water.
The debate over the Ukrainian counteroffensive
The discussion quickly turned to the state of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Some analyses argue that Ukraine has failed in its objectives, citing figures of 72,000 dead in three months and zero significant territorial gains. Others respond that Russia has lost 50% of the territory it seized at the start of the invasion, that it is mobilizing civilians, and that it maintains a static defense at an enormous cost in equipment.
The exchange of blows includes references to the Minsk agreements, the Russian withdrawal from the outskirts of Kyiv, and the alleged breach of commitments by both sides. The debate over whether or not a deal was signed in Istanbul turns into an exchange of accusations with no verifiable documents. What is clear is that neither side has managed to prevail and that the conflict has become a war of attrition.
The role of propaganda in the conflict
Propaganda is just another weapon. The initial message, with deliberate misspellings and exaggerations, imitates the style of official Russian channels in order to mock them. The technique, known as shitposting, consists of taking the official narrative to absurd lengths to discredit it. In this case, the idea of a submarine intercepting missiles in port is so ridiculous it becomes a meme.
The response from defenders of the Russian version has been to recall supposed Russian victories and accuse the West of prolonging the war. NATO's supply of weapons, intelligence and training is presented as the reason Ukraine has not won, rather than as its salvation. The discussion, like almost all in this conflict, ends in a dead end: each side has its own narrative and verifiable facts are scarce.
The final irony is that, while people argue over whether the submarine intercepted missiles or was sunk, the Black Sea Fleet keeps losing capability. The Rostov on Don, if its loss is confirmed, leaves Russia with fewer platforms to launch Kalibr missiles from the sea. And the propaganda, the kind that turns a shipwreck into a victory, keeps working on those who want to believe it. "Tonight, have the Halmirante Kutnesov fire up the smoke machine to throw them off", suggests another reply. Humor, at least, does not sink.
Can a 300-million-dollar diesel-electric submarine, launched in 2014, intercept cruise missiles in the port of Sevastopol? The official Russian answer is yes: the Kilo-class submersible supposedly became a state-of-the-art anti-missile shield. The technical answer is that a submarine in dry dock, moored and under maintenance, has the same ability to intercept a missile as a stone. And the answer circulating in military analysis channels is that the Rostov on Don was hit and sunk in the Ukrainian attack on the Black Sea Fleet's naval base.
The official account claims that the Ukrainian missiles were "hintersepted" one after another by the submarine, which was waiting "hagasapado" in the port's dry docks. The scene, described as an "authentic massacre" of projectiles, would make the submersible the first submarine in history to shoot down cruise missiles from the water. A antiestéticat not even the US Navy's Aegis systems have achieved. The propaganda, however, has a problem: the Rostov on Don was not submerged, but under maintenance in the port.
What really peine to the submarine Rostov on Don?
The Ukrainian attack on the Sevastopol naval base, headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, is reported to have hit the Kilo-class submarine Rostov on Don, according to circulating images and analyses. The submersible, valued at 300 million dollars and in service since 2014, is one of the most modern assets of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. Its loss, if confirmed, would be a significant blow to Russia's ability to strike with Kalibr missiles from underwater platforms.
The Russian version insists the submarine intercepted the missiles. The Ukrainian version and most independent analysts maintain it was hit. "It's a submarine, it's designed to be underwater", sums up one of the most repeated responses, pointing to the logical contradiction in the propaganda: if the submarine was in port, it could not be submerged; if it was submerged, it could not intercept missiles.
The Black Sea Fleet and the wear of war
The Black Sea Fleet has suffered notable losses since the invasion began. The sinking of the flagship cruiser Moskva in April 2022 marked the first major blow. Since then, the fleet has endured attacks by naval drones, Storm Shadow missiles and sabotage operations. The Rostov on Don would be the latest on a list that includes patrol boats, landing craft and the Kilo submarine.
The paradox is that Russian propaganda celebrates as a victory what is technically a debacle. "The hoperasion militar hespesial keeps showing the world the henormous military power of the glorious hozy rossy", the initial message ironizes, parodying the official accent and rhetoric. The reality, according to available data, is that the Black Sea Fleet has gone from being a credible threat to retreating to safe harbors and avoiding open water.
The debate over the Ukrainian counteroffensive
The discussion quickly turned to the state of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Some analyses argue that Ukraine has failed in its objectives, citing figures of 72,000 dead in three months and zero significant territorial gains. Others respond that Russia has lost 50% of the territory it seized at the start of the invasion, that it is mobilizing civilians, and that it maintains a static defense at an enormous cost in equipment.
The exchange of blows includes references to the Minsk agreements, the Russian withdrawal from the outskirts of Kyiv, and the alleged breach of commitments by both sides. The debate over whether or not a deal was signed in Istanbul turns into an exchange of accusations with no verifiable documents. What is clear is that neither side has managed to prevail and that the conflict has become a war of attrition.
The role of propaganda in the conflict
Propaganda is just another weapon. The initial message, with deliberate misspellings and exaggerations, imitates the style of official Russian channels in order to mock them. The technique, known as shitposting, consists of taking the official narrative to absurd lengths to discredit it. In this case, the idea of a submarine intercepting missiles in port is so ridiculous it becomes a meme.
The response from defenders of the Russian version has been to recall supposed Russian victories and accuse the West of prolonging the war. NATO's supply of weapons, intelligence and training is presented as the reason Ukraine has not won, rather than as its salvation. The discussion, like almost all in this conflict, ends in a dead end: each side has its own narrative and verifiable facts are scarce.
The final irony is that, while people argue over whether the submarine intercepted missiles or was sunk, the Black Sea Fleet keeps losing capability. The Rostov on Don, if its loss is confirmed, leaves Russia with fewer platforms to launch Kalibr missiles from the sea. And the propaganda, the kind that turns a shipwreck into a victory, keeps working on those who want to believe it. "Tonight, have the Halmirante Kutnesov fire up the smoke machine to throw them off", suggests another reply. Humor, at least, does not sink.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (99 replies).
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