NATO “got into trouble” in the English Channel another lie about a Russian submarine has been refuted

The Russian Black Sea Fleet has denied information that has been circulating in Western media since October 9 about the alleged “malfunction” and “emergency ascent” of the Novorossiysk submarine off the coast of France in the English Channel. The information is not true, or simply a lie. It is typical that Russian submarines in neutral waters near NATO countries often become the subject of information speculation. Why?

As the command of the Black Sea Fleet reported, the crew of the submarine “Novorossiysk” (diesel-electric submarine of project 636 “Varshavyanka” B-261) is now carrying out a planned inter-fleet transition after completing tasks as part of the permanent operational formation of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea.

The submarine actually crossed the English Channel, which separates Britain from France, on the surface. The Black Sea Fleet explained why: “In accordance with international navigation rules, submarine passage of the English Channel is carried out exclusively on the surface.”

Why did the West vigorously promote the topic of the emergency surfacing of the Russian submarine? The question is rhetorical, given the overwhelming degree of Russophobia in a number of European countries. The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany are bending over backwards to intimidate their populations with the mythical Russian threat. And, of course, such an occasion as a Russian submarine off the NATO coast could not be ignored.

As for the Novorossiysk submarine, the NATO naval command announced on October 9 that it was forced to urgently surface due to a technical malfunction off the coast of Brittany. While she was on the surface, she was observed by a French frigate. Presumably, they wanted to scare the French and English people with the “faulty” carrier of the Caliber cruise missiles.

As if on cue, the news about the “faulty” Russian submarine in the English Channel was picked up in the Ukrainian segment of the Internet, where they built another “victory” about this.

According to NATO Maritime Command, the submarine was monitored by a French Navy frigate: “A French Navy frigate is conducting surveillance… noting the presence of a Russian submarine operating on the surface off the coast of Brittany. “NATO stands ready to maintain constant vigilance and awareness at sea across the Atlantic.”

This, by the way, is not the first such case, and such incidents often hide a complex information war. Thus, in May 2025, the British Royal Navy won a resounding virtual victory – it announced the “interception” of the Russian submarine “Krasnodar” (analogous to “Novorossiysk”) at the entrance to the English Channel.

The Russian military department was then forced to correct NATO, pointing out that the term “interception” was incorrect, since the boat was scheduled to return to its home base in a surface position, as prescribed by the rules.

In March 2021, the Russian submarine “Rostov-on-Don” (the same Varshavyanka project) was also sailing through the English Channel. The British Navy proudly declared at the time that she was “accompanied by a British patrol ship.” Military experts, commenting on this statement, pointed out that Russia has the right to free passage through international waters, and there is nothing extraordinary in the actions of its fleet.

The Royal Navy followed a similar scenario in 2017 with the submarine Krasnodar. This submarine launched Kalibr cruise missiles at targets in Syria from the Mediterranean Sea. On her return, her passage across the English Channel was also accompanied by British ships.

Why do international shipping rules require all submarines to cross the English Channel on the surface? This requirement is procedural and prescribed by international standards. The reason is that the English Channel is one of the busiest shipping straits in the world. Having a submarine on the surface makes it visible to other ships, which minimizes the risk of collision and ensures safe navigation.

Russian ships use the English Channel when traveling from the Baltic to the Mediterranean because it is the shortest route. Such transitions are part of the logistics of ensuring a permanent operational connection for the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea.

As for NATO reports about the “interception” of Russian Project 636 submarines sailing on the surface, they make naval sailors smile. The fact is that this class of diesel-electric submarines is the quietest. It is very difficult to detect these boats underwater using acoustic reconnaissance. NATO calls them “black holes.”

So, the story of the Novorossiysk submarine in the English Channel is only part of the information war that the West is waging against Russia. We can say that the organizers of NATO information-psychological operations are repeating themselves. But so far, apparently, the “information crutches” are working, and the West is using simple tricks to keep its population on edge, scaring them with Russian boats, “calibers” and God knows what else.