Russian military morale has plunged so far that sailors are now reportedly sabotaging their own submarines to get to sleep, according to an extraordinary claim from former Ukrainian interior ministry official Anton Gerashchenko. In a post on X Mr Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, cited Russian Telegram channels alleging that breakdowns aboard submarines in the Black Sea Fleet have “become more frequent” since the beginning of the year — not due to technical failure or enemy action, but deliberate interference by exhausted crews.
Mr Geraschenko wrote: “Russian Telegram channels claim that since the beginning of 2024, breakdowns on submarines of the Russian Black Sea Fleet have become more frequent because of Russian sailors deliberately damaging them to get more rest.” More than 50 minor incidents were recorded aboard the Kolpino and Krasnodar submarines, with the faults serious enough to disrupt both “planned and combat operations”, he added.
Mr Gerashchenko continued: “As a result, all the vessels of the Black Sea Fleet were sent for an unscheduled inspection.
“The reasons for the breakdowns turned out to be very interesting: in all cases, clear signs of interference were found. Suspicions fell on junior officers who had recently arrived on duty, as the crew could rest during the repairs.”
If true, the claims mark a remarkable collapse in discipline within one of the most elite branches of Russia’s armed forces. Submarine crews undergo extensive screening and rigorous training and are typically seen as the backbone of naval readiness, not a weak link.
But they now appear to be part of a wider trend of deteriorating morale across the Russian military, as the war in Ukraine drags into its third year and casualties mount.
Russia has relied heavily on what Western analysts describe as a “meatgrinder” strategy – in other words, flooding the front lines with waves of poorly equipped troops to exhaust and overwhelm Ukrainian defences.
While sometimes effective tactically, this approach has come at an enormous cost in human lives and appears to be fuelling growing resentment within the ranks.
Reports of demoralised troops, mutinies, and desertions have surfaced repeatedly since the invasion began. In one video circulated by independent Russian media, conscripted soldiers complained they were being sent into battle without basic weapons or armour. In another incident last year, a group of mobilised men from Siberia refused orders to deploy, citing unbearable conditions and lack of support.
Now, even Russia’s naval assets — already weakened by a string of Ukrainian missile and drone strikes — appear to be suffering from internal sabotage.
Mr Gerashchenko did not provide evidence to independently verify the claims, but if accurate, they suggest Vladimir Putin’s war machine is showing serious signs of stress not just on the battlefield, but within its own command structures.
The Kremlin has not commented publicly on the allegations.
