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Russia to recover Cold War-era nuclear submarines from Arctic seabed

Russia to recover Cold War-era nuclear submarines from Arctic seabed
Source: interestingengineering
Author: @IntEngineering
Published: 10/22/2025

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Russia is undertaking a multi-billion-dollar initiative to recover two Cold War-era nuclear submarines, K-27 and K-159, from the Arctic seabed due to environmental concerns over radioactive contamination. Both submarines have been submerged for decades, with the K-27 sunk in shallow waters of the Kara Sea after suffering a radioactive coolant leak in the 1960s, and the K-159 sinking in 2003 during a failed towing operation while containing 800 kilograms of nuclear fuel. The Bellona Foundation has highlighted the environmental risks, noting these submarines hold radiation levels equivalent to about a quarter of the Fukushima disaster's initial release. Preparations for the recovery project are planned to begin in 2026, with actual work starting in 2027, as per Russian federal budget allocations. The K-27’s reactors were sealed with tar intended to last only until 2032, raising fears of potential leaks due to exposure to Arctic tides and currents. The K-159, which sank at

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energynuclear-energyradioactive-wasteArctic-seabedsubmarine-recoveryenvironmental-safetynuclear-submarines