Russian nuclear submarine: Fears as the K-159 nuclear warship that sank over 20 years ago is rusting and laying on the seabed with extremely hazardous fuel.

More than two decades after it sank in a storm while under tow, the Russian nuclear submarine K-159 remains a major environmental hazard, lying on the seabed of the Barents Sea with a significant payload of highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel.

Experts and neighbouring nations, particularly Norway, warn that the vessel’s increasingly rusted condition makes a disastrous leak of radionuclides a matter of “when”, not “if”.

The November-class submarine, a Cold War relic, foundered and sank on August 30, 2003, while being transported for decommissioning. It now rests at a depth of approximately 246 metres northwest of Kildin Island, an area crucial to both Russian and Norwegian fishing industries.

The Radioactive Threat

The primary danger posed by the K-159 is the contents of its two nuclear reactors. Unlike many decommissioned vessels, the K-159 went down with an estimated 800 kilograms of spent nuclear fuel still inside.

Radioactive Inventory: At the time of sinking, the total radioactive inventory was estimated at over 7.4 Petabecquerels (PBq), with the majority of the risk coming from long-lived isotopes like Caesium-137 (137Cs) and Strontium-90 (90Sr).
Corrosion Risk: The K-159 had been laid up with minimal maintenance for 14 years before its final tow, leaving its outer hull in a notoriously poor state—described in reports as having “the strength of foil.” Environmental modelling suggests that within the next decade, the corrosion of the protective layers could lead to a massive, sudden “pulse discharge” of radioactive material.
Ecological Impact: A study by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research estimated that a full release of the Caesium-137 inventory could increase concentrations of the radionuclide in cod in the eastern Barents Sea by up to 100 times current levels for a two-year period. While these levels would likely remain below international safety guidelines, the mere perception of contamination could have devastating economic consequences for the Arctic’s vital fisheries.

Surveys Offer Temporary Reassurance

Joint Norwegian-Russian expeditions, the last major one occurring in 2014, have continuously monitored the wreck site. To date, these surveys have provided a measure of relief:

No Leakage Detected (So Far): Analysis of seawater and sediment samples taken near the submarine have not shown elevated levels of radiation, suggesting the reactor compartment’s inner hull remains largely intact.
Wreck Damage Confirmed: However, video evidence from Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) has confirmed that the outer hull is heavily damaged, with missing hatches and a break near the stern, underscoring the deteriorating condition of the vessel.

Plans on Hold Amid Geopolitical Freeze

For years, there has been a consensus between Russia and its Arctic neighbors that the K-159, along with the intentionally scuttled nuclear submarine K-27, must be raised.

Rosatom’s Commitment: Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, has repeatedly included the salvage of the K-159 in its Arctic cleanup strategy, with a target date of around 2030 for retrieval of the most dangerous sunken objects.
International Cooperation Stalled: The project—estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars—was initially planned with support from international partners, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). However, since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, cooperation on nuclear safety, a long-standing point of engagement between Russia and the West, has been frozen.
A Solo, Uncertain Effort: Russia insists it will proceed with the salvage alone, but experts express doubt. Lifting a submarine of this age and condition from that depth is a complex engineering challenge, requiring highly specialized equipment that Russia may currently lack. Furthermore, lifting the fragile, highly radioactive hull without causing a breach presents its own significant risk of a rapid contamination event.

For now, the K-159 remains on the Arctic seabed—a silent, corroding monument to the Cold War, and what many are calling a “Chernobyl in slow motion” that demands urgent, concerted action to secure the future of the Barents Sea.