Russia adds anti-drone nets to Pacific submarines amid expanding drone threat

Satellite photos show Russia has fitted anti-drone netting to several submarines at its Rybachiy base on the Kamchatka Peninsula, far from the Ukraine front.

Analysis of recent satellite images by the US spatial-intelligence company Vantor shows a significant increase in anti-drone netting on submarines stationed at the Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. While images from May displayed netting on only two vessels, the latest pictures captured on Tuesday depict more than six submarines protected by the barriers. Rybachiy serves as the main port for the Pacific Fleet’s nuclear-powered ballistic-missile and attack submarines, and it is situated more than 4,500 miles east of the Ukrainian conflict zone.

The move reflects a pattern seen at Russian Black Sea installations, where similar nets have been installed to guard against Ukrainian drone incursions. Ukraine has proven capable of launching drones over 1,000 miles into Russian territory and has even conducted operations from within Russia itself, such as the June 2025 Operation Spiderweb that targeted bases across the Arctic, Siberia, and the far east. Neither Russia’s defense ministry nor its US embassy responded to requests for comment on the new defenses. The expansion underscores Moscow’s perception that its naval assets are vulnerable to drone attacks well beyond the immediate front lines.