Russia denied on Monday that its submarine was experiencing technical difficulties after it surfaced near the northern French coast.

NATO's Maritime Command released photos on October 9, claiming to show a French Navy frigate observing a Russian sub operating at the surface near the coast of Brittany.

NATO posted on X that it was ready to defend its Alliance, with maritime awareness and constant vigilance across the Atlantic. It did not name the submarine.

VChK OGPU, a mysterious Telegram channel which publishes purported Russian leaks of security information, reported last week that the diesel powered submarine Novorossiysk suffered serious technical issues, with fuel leaking in the hold.

State media released a statement on Monday from the Black Sea Fleet of Russia denying that Novorossiysk surfaced near France due to a technical problem.

The submarine had completed its tasks in the Mediterranean Sea and was now on a transit. It surfaced according to international navigation regulations in the English Channel.

The state news agency TASS reported that the vessel entered service in 2014. It is part of a group submarines which carry Kalibr Cruise missiles.

(source: Reuters)