Sep 27, 2025Crew boards Russian submarine Novorossiysk during commissioning ceremony in St. Petersburg, August 2014. (Source: Getty Images)Two Russian naval vessels have reportedly sustained major technical failures in separate incidents in the Mediterranean and the Azov region. According to Russian investigative outlet VChK-OGPU on September 27, the Project 636.3 submarine Novorossiysk experienced a critical malfunction in its fuel system while operating in the Mediterranean Sea. Damage visible on Russian missile corvette Vyshny Volochyok after reported collision with civilian tanker. Earlier in August, a brand-new Russian Navy tugboat, Kapitan Ushakov, sank during final outfitting at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg.