EXPRESS Vladimir Putin's 'Black Hole' submarine could be on the way to Crimea to interfer in Ukraine

FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The state-of-the-art sub spent three days refuelling at the Spanish-controlled territory of Ceuta on the north African coastline - just across the narrow Strait of Gibraltar from the British Overseas Territory. Security analysts now fear the Russian vessel could be heading towards Ukraine's occupied Crimea peninsula, as Moscow-backed rebels continue to wage civil war in the eastern European country. Novorossiysk, a diesel-electric submarine, is said to be the quietest vessel of its kind – earning it the nickname ‘The Black Hole’. Armed with 18 torpedoes and eight surface-to-air Club missiles, it is mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions in relatively shallow waters – but can also strike targets on land.

The submarine can only be at sea for 45 days before it needs to refuel, and Novorossiysk passed through the English Channel last week, meaning it is likely to be headed to the Black Sea after the stop-off at the Mediterranean port of Ceuta. According to The Independent, 'The Black Hole' stopped off at the small Spanish territory - which borders Morocco - this week, taking on supplies, fuel and water. Its 56-strong crew were also allowed to disembark to sample the city’s nightlife.

GETTY Russian crew members get on board of the newly built 'Novorossiysk' B-261

Andrew Rosindell MP, vice chairman of the House of Commons' All Party Parliamentary Group on Gibraltar, branded the move a "clear provocation" by Spain as it bids to "intimidate the Gibraltarian people".

Spain has consistently ignored the borders of Gibraltar’s territorial waters, rammed their ships, and even fired shots at boats filled with tourists Andrew Rosindell MP

He added: “Spain has consistently ignored the borders of Gibraltar’s territorial waters, rammed their ships, and even fired shots at boats filled with tourists. "And now, to cap it all off, they are allowing the navy of an unfriendly power to park their submarine less than 18 miles away.”

EXPRESS A map showing Gibraltar and Ceuta

A NATO official confirmed the stop-off but added that the visit was “arranged bilaterally between sovereign nations” as the military alliance had “suspended all practical cooperation with Russia”. It follows heightened tensions between the UK, Gibraltar and Spain after customs officers fired shots and threw bricks at fishermen operating close to the Rock.

GETTY Port of Ceuta in north Africa

Dramatic footage, obtained exclusively by Express.co.uk this week, showed Spanish patrol boats circling a Gibraltar-registered pleasure boat last Saturday, which the island’s chief minister Fabian Picardo called an "illegal incursion" and an "extremely serious escalation" of "repeated Spanish violations of British-Gibraltar sovereignty". In a similar incursion by Spain into British waters earlier this month, a Guardia Civil boat rammed a Gibraltar police boat. Spanish police also flew a helicopter over the popular Sandy Bay beach area of the British territory in an "extremely dangerous" stunt.