It were dangerous to make unsubstantiated claims that Russia has suffered a serious setback in its nuclear submarine capabilities as a result of the July 31 earthquake in Kamchatka.
So far, the Russian Ministry of Defense and other agencies have simply said that “no critical damage occurred” and “no fatalities or serious injuries” were reported after the M8.8 July 31 Kamchatka Peninsula earthquake. The epicenter of the earthquake was 75 miles from the Russian submarine base at Avacha Bay, on the Kamchatka Peninsula, followed by a major eruption by Klyuchevskoy Volcano 280 miles north of the region’s capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
Klyuchevskoy erupts frequently: Its most recent eruptions were in 2020, 2022 and 2023. Scientists noted weeks ago that Klyuchevskoy’s crater began filling with lava and emitting ash plumes.
Avacha Bay harbors Rybachiy and Vilyuchinsk naval bases, homeports to Russia’s Borei-A strategic ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), Delta III-class SSBN, and Yasen-M- and Oscar-class guided missile submarines (SSGNs).
Some Western analysts think the situation warrants further analysis. Due to cloudy weather there, it has been challenging to obtain satellite photographs. One satellite photograph indicates that one Delta-III class SSBN was moored there during the earthquake, a submarine thought not to be in service, and a damaged pier.
