Russian Navy Revives Long-Range Deployments for Diesel-Electric Submarines

The Russian Navy is reviving the Soviet-era practice of deploying diesel-electric submarines in ocean-going operations. Project 636.3 Varshavyanka submarines will train and operate alongside nuclear-powered submarines, Izvestia reported, citing sources. Russian diesel-electric submarines have begun carrying out combat patrol missions in remote areas of the Pacific Ocean. The first submarine to undertake the deployment was the Magadan, which departed its home base in December 2025. During the mission, the submarine's crew replenished supplies at Russian naval support points before proceeding with its primary operational tasks. The deployment lasted more than 40 days. During the patrol, the crew of the Magadan practiced coordinated operations with crews of nuclear-powered submarines.