A Russian submarine equipped to carry nuclear armaments has experienced a severe malfunction in the Mediterranean, posing an explosion threat.
Reports indicate that fuel was seeping from the vessel.
The 242-foot Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk was observed on the surface in the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday, according to accounts.
Russian Telegram channel VChk-OGPU, which maintains connections to intelligence sources and boasts over 330,000 followers, said that fuel has been collecting in the vessel's hold, creating a volatile situation.
The channel, known for publishing information from Russian security and law enforcement circles, suggested the crew might need to discharge the hold's contents directly into the Mediterranean to prevent an incident.
The report said: "Novorossiysk, currently on combat duty in the Mediterranean Sea, is experiencing serious technical problems.
"Due to damage in the fuel system, fuel is leaking directly into the hold.
"There are no spare parts for repairs or qualified specialists on the submarine, and the crew is unable to fix the malfunctions."
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The Russian submarine was observed on the surface in the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday, according to accounts | GOOGLEIt added: "The serious accident has caused other problems as well.
"The accumulated fuel in the hold is an explosive hazard."
No additional information about the nature of the malfunction was provided in the report.
The diesel-electric attack vessel accommodates 52 crew members and has the capacity to remain submerged for up to 45 days.
The 242-foot Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk belongs to Russia's Black Sea Fleet
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The submarine is engineered to deploy nuclear-capable Kalibr missiles as part of its offensive capabilities.
British naval forces have previously monitored this particular vessel, including an incident in January when it was tracked passing through the English Channel.
Defence Secretary John Healey disclosed to Parliament on Friday that a Royal Navy nuclear submarine was compelled to surface alongside the Novorossiysk last November as a deterrent measure.
The vessel belongs to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, though reports indicate it has not participated in operations related to the Ukraine conflict.
The malfunction bears disturbing parallels to the Kursk catastrophe of August 2000, when 118 sailors perished after explosions sank an Oscar II class submarine in the Barents Sea.
The Novorossiysk shares its class designation with the submarine Rostov-on-Don
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That tragedy occurred during Russia's first significant naval exercises in over a decade, triggered by a hydrogen peroxide leak and its reaction with a catalyst, which caused a torpedo malfunction in the forward compartment.
A subsequent blast fractured the Kursk's hull, sending it plummeting to the seabed.
The Novorossiysk shares its class designation with the submarine Rostov-on-Don, which Ukraine reported destroying in August 2024.
Both vessels form part of Russia's submarine fleet capable of launching nuclear-armed missiles.