Russia has confirmed that two of its most advanced nuclear-powered submarines have successfully completed a 4,000-nautical-mile voyage beneath the Arctic ice, moving from the Barents Sea to the Pacific Fleet’s base on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The two submarines involved in the transfer are the Imperator Aleksandr III, a Borei-class submarine armed with ballistic missiles, and the Krasnoyarsk, a Yasen-M class multipurpose submarine. Both vessels were part of the Ocean-2024 military exercise, Russia’s largest strategic naval drill since the Soviet era. The exercise, which involved over 400 warships and submarines, spanned the Pacific and Arctic Oceans. The Russian Defense Ministry announced the conclusion of the week-long exercise, which aimed to demonstrate the nation’s naval strength.
A ceremony was held at the submarine base in Vilyuchinsk, Kamchatka, presided over by Acting Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev. During the event, the 25th Submarine Division was awarded the prestigious Order of Nakhimov, a Soviet-era honor recognizing naval leadership and bravery. Moiseyev emphasized the readiness of Russia’s submarines, including their ability to deploy “the most powerful and devastating weapons” in defense of the nation.
The Imperator Aleksandr III is a 24,000-ton Borei-class submarine capable of carrying up to 16 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), each potentially mounted with six nuclear warheads. The Krasnoyarsk, a Yasen-M class submarine, adds to the Pacific Fleet’s multipurpose attack capability. The submarines are designed to engage surface ships, submarines, and land targets using conventional or nuclear weapons.
The Russian navy’s modernization efforts, which include the construction of new submarines at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, have not been delayed despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Russia is actively replacing older submarines in both its Northern and Pacific fleets. The Delta-IV class submarines, for example, are undergoing upgrades, while the Pacific Fleet’s older Delta-III class is being replaced by the Borei-class submarines.
This submarine transfer and Russia’s broader naval modernization come amid heightened U.S.-Russia rivalry, particularly in the Arctic. Both nations view the Arctic as strategically vital, and military activity in the region has been increasing.
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