Russia begins deploying greater numbers of cruise missiles on submarines in Black Sea, Ukrainian official claims

An official of the Ukrainian Navy has told Ukrainian media that Russia has increased the number of available cruise missiles on Russian Navy submarines operating in the Black Sea.

Navy spokesperson Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk said that one Russian submarine that was nominally configured to carry only four Kalibr cruise missiles at any given time has recently begun deploying to the Black Sea with six missiles on board.

Pletenchuk explained that the increased missile capacity may be one result of redesign work undertaken on the submarine, the name of which has not been disclosed.

Pletenchuk added that Russia has not deployed additional vessels to the Black Sea but that the few deployed vessels in the area include the submarine with the increased missile capacity, "to have more strike potential."

According to Pletenchuk, the Russian Black Sea Fleet currently has three missile-capable Project 636 diesel-electric submarines.

A fourth boat from the same class is also included in the fleet but is not a missile carrier and is being used primarily for patrols, said Pletenchuk.