Russia's first Varshavyanka-class submarine, the Novorossiisk, has joined the Black Sea fleet, according to the Russian Southern Military District, cited by RIA Novosti.

The submarine currently stays at the Admiralty shipyard in St. Petersburg but will head to the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has ordered six Varshavyanka-class submarines, named by the US Navy "black holes in the ocean", because they are nearly undetectable when submerged.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com