MANILA — A Russian attack submarine was recently spotted passing through the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed on Monday.
According to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, the submarine was detected in the waters of Occidental Mindoro.
“Regarding the specifics of the incident, I believe the Philippine Navy has more detailed information. However, we can confirm that the report is accurate, and the Russian submarine did indeed pass through our exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” Tarriela stated.
THE SPOTTED SUB
In a rare and unexpected development, a Russian attack submarine was spotted surfacing in the West Philippine Sea last week, according to multiple security sources.
The submarine, identified as the Russian Navy’s Ufa, a Kilo II-class diesel-electric vessel, was first seen on November 28, approximately 148 kilometers (80 nautical miles) west of Occidental Mindoro.
Sources indicated that it had come from Malaysia.
Upon detection, the Philippine Navy swiftly deployed an aircraft and a warship to monitor the Ufa’s movements.
While the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not specify why the submarine surfaced, they confirmed that the vessel moved slowly northward, remaining outside Philippine territorial waters.
The Ufa continued its journey until the weekend, under constant surveillance by the Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal.
The Ufa is a 4,000-ton submarine (when submerged) and is part of Russia’s Pacific Fleet. It was commissioned in 2022 as the fourth unit of the Project 636.3 series, an upgrade to the Soviet-era Kilo-class submarines, which are known for their ability to conduct extended patrols lasting up to 45 days.
The Ufa is 74 meters long, has a range of 12,000 km (7,500 miles), and is one of the advanced Kilo-II submarines currently in service.
The presence of the Ufa in the region has raised concerns due to its close proximity to the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), though it did not enter Philippine territorial waters during its passage.
THE SILENT SUB
The Russian Navy’s Ufa, a Kilo-class submarine known for its stealth and advanced capabilities, was recently observed operating in the West Philippine Sea, after making a port visit in Malaysia. The Ufa, capable of firing Kalibr missiles—which have seen extensive use in Ukraine—has a maximum operational depth of 240 meters and can dive as deep as 300 meters.
According to the US Naval Institute News, the Ufa, accompanied by the rescue tug Alatau, stopped at the RMN Kota Kinabalu Naval Base in Malaysia on November 23 for a scheduled port visit and exercises. In early November, the submarine also made its first-ever visit to Indonesia.
The Ufa is expected to return to its home base at Kamchatka Naval Base in Russia’s Pacific Fleet after completing its mission in the region.
The Philippine Navy has yet to comment on the submarine’s movements in the area. The Ufa’s presence in the West Philippine Sea is part of the growing Russian naval activity in the region, which has raised concerns due to the area’s ongoing territorial disputes, especially involving China, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian nations.
THE RUSSIAN FLEET
A Russian Navy Pacific Fleet surface action group, including the corvettes RFS Gromkiy (335), RFS Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov (339), RFS Rezkiy (343), and the fleet oiler Pechenga, is heading for the West Philippine Sea, according to reports.
These vessels recently completed a port visit to the Royal Thai Navy’s Sattahip Naval Base on November 25 as part of their Indo-Pacific deployment.
The presence of the Russian ships adds to the growing international military activity in the West Philippine Sea, where the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and its escort ships have been operating since last week.
Moscow’s growing naval presence in the region is seen as part of its close defense and trade ties with Beijing. Both Russia and China have conducted joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea this year.
China claims nearly the entire West Philippine Sea, a position that is contested by other nations in the region, including the Philippines.
The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, however, rejected China’s expansive territorial claims, affirming that they have no legal basis under international law.