When one of its Kilo-class, diesel-electric submarines recently surfaced off the coast of France, Russia denied that there was a problem with the vessel. The sub was simply surfacing to comply with maritime transit rules governing the English Channel, the Kremlin said—Russia being, of course, a noted follower of international law.
But social media accounts historically linked to Russian security forces suggested a far more serious problem on the submarine Novorossiysk. According to The Maritime Executive, "Rumors began to circulate on well-informed social media channels that the Novorossiysk had suffered a fuel leak. They suggested the vessel lacked onboard capabilities and was forced to surface to empty flooded compartments. Some reports said it was a dangerous fuel leak aboard the vessel, which was commissioned in 2012."
France 24 quoted further social media reports as saying, "The submarine has neither the spare parts nor the qualified specialists onboard to fix the malfunction," and it "now poses an explosion hazard."
When the Novorossiysk surfaced off the coast of France a few days ago, it headed north and was promptly shadowed by a French warship, then an English ship, and finally a Dutch hydrographic recording vessel and an NH90 combat helicopter. The Dutch navy said in a statement that the Novorossiysk and "the tugboat Yakov Grebelskiy," which was apparently towing it, have left the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone. Although Russian ships have the right to transit international waters, the Dutch wanted to show "vigilance" in "preventing Russian ships from sabotaging submarine infrastructure."