Picture courtesy of Royal Navy via BBC

 

NATO chief Mark Rutte has poked fun at the condition of a Russian submarine amid denials from Moscow over technical failings. Russia's Black Sea Fleet claims its submarine, Novorossiysk, surfaced in the English Channel for navigational reasons, despite Dutch authorities asserting it was being towed in the North Sea. Rutte made light of the situation, likening it to a comedic twist on the classic novel "The Hunt for Red October," suggesting the vessel was "limping" back home.

 

The incident began when Dutch officials reported on Saturday that the diesel-powered submarine was under tow. Reports from a Russian Telegram channel, VChK-OGPU, heightened tensions by suggesting a fuel leak occurred near the Strait of Gibraltar. The Royal Navy monitored the vessel from 7 to 9 October during its return from the Mediterranean as part of Nato's efforts to keep tabs on Russian naval movements.

 

In a subsequent move, both the HMS Iron Duke and the Dutch navy were involved in tracking and escorting the surfaced Russian submarine and its support tug. The Russian Black Sea Fleet maintained that the vessel was merely on a "scheduled inter-fleet transit" and dismissed technical fault claims as inaccurate. According to navigation rules, submarines must travel on the surface through the English Channel.

 

This marks another instance of tension in the channel, following a recent tracking of a Russian frigate and cargo vessel by the Royal Navy. Al Carns, minister for the armed forces, emphasised the UK's commitment to Nato partnerships by resisting Russian advances. Investigation into prior incidents revealed deceptive practices, such as Russian ships disguising identities while navigating the Channel with sanctioned oil tankers.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Nato's Mark Rutte mocks Russia’s submarine’s state amid technical denial.
• Submarine tracked by Nato as part of ongoing naval monitoring.
• Russia dismisses technical issue claims, citing scheduled transit.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-10-14

 

 

It’s kinda funny but I hope they make it home safe …..from what I understand it’s a diesel fuel leak that’s the problem and if that’s leaking into the boat they must be a barfing non stop!!yeiks!!

Spy sub or nuke sub? I had a high school friend who died on the Thresher.

Either Russia is a weakling military federation with miserable subs.

To be mocked and not feared

Or it is a frightening hostile enemy preparing an assault on Europe next year.

And thus forcing Europe govermins to gut pensions and social to redirect $$$ to buy American weapons.

If Europeans don't want to have to learn Russian.

Like Mark Rutte has said repeatedly.

 

Raytheon, Rheinmetall and the whole MIC are doing well, very well these days.

19 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Spy sub or nuke sub? I had a high school friend who died on the Thresher.

It’s a diesel and I don’t think it’s a boomer so it’s most likely an attack sub

I dont think the UK should be chuckling at this----- the last 2 (very latest) warships were towed back home after faults discovered ----One had the wrong type of propeller fitted on it .........

 

 

------------------------------------------

 

both of the UK's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers,
. HMS Prince of Wales had a major propeller shaft coupling failure in August 2022, and HMS Queen Elizabeth experienced a similar issue in February 2024. These issues have caused major operational setbacks, including the cancellation of exercises and long repair periods.

 

 

 

 

The Russia Military according to NATO chief Mark Rutte

The NATO military economy is 25x larger than Russia. 
The NATO Air Force is magnitudes larger and more effective than Russia's. 
The NATO military is massively stronger that Russia. 
Ukraine is winning the war against Russia and is advancing against Russian's poorly trained, unmotivated Russia troops who are falling back to the Russian border.
The ruble is rubble.
Russian economy is in tatters. 
The Russian military is a paper tiger.
 
Then ironically, according to Western press and foreign offices, the unmotivated, poorly trained, weak, broke Russian state will limp Westward -- and invade Europe any day now, and Europeans are urged to make plans to flee.

 

🤔 Ah-huh? Hummmm. Really? Ok.

NATO without the USA, what a joke.  RU has quite a few, that's 1 country.  NATO consists of 31 members, without the USA.

 

 

 

If curious, here's CN's sub count.  RU & CN alliance ... hmm

 

 

India has a few ... BRICS ... hmm

 

Now the paper tiger is limping, this just keeps getting better and better. 

7 hours ago, connda said:

The Russia Military according to NATO chief Mark Rutte

The NATO military economy is 25x larger than Russia. 
The NATO Air Force is magnitudes larger and more effective than Russia's. 
The NATO military is massively stronger that Russia. 
Ukraine is winning the war against Russia and is advancing against Russian's poorly trained, unmotivated Russia troops who are falling back to the Russian border.
The ruble is rubble.
Russian economy is in tatters. 
The Russian military is a paper tiger.
 
Then ironically, according to Western press and foreign offices, the unmotivated, poorly trained, weak, broke Russian state will limp Westward -- and invade Europe any day now, and Europeans are urged to make plans to flee.

 

🤔 Ah-huh? Hummmm. Really? Ok.

Yet they have more nuclear missiles than anyone else. Could make up for their other shortcomings.

2 hours ago, Caldera said:

Now the paper tiger is limping, this just keeps getting better and better. 

Or is it a cunning limping dog  evaluating when to resume full speed ?

17 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Yet they have more nuclear missiles than anyone else. Could make up for their other shortcomings.

Some have said that many of those nukes are inoperable after decades of neglect. I don't think anybody wants to test that theory. A dud would still have enormous impacy (no pun intended). Watch Threads (1983).