News
Publish date: October 30, 1997
Written by: Thomas Nilsen
News
The decommisioned nuclear submarine of Charlie-I class sank at its berth after being hit by another boat. Despite the accident, background radiation levels emitted by the vessel remained normal, Interfax reported.
–After raising the submarine from the sea floor it was towed to a new pier, said local flotilla commander Rear Admiral Alexandr Nescheret. Some 50 ageing nuclear submarines are laid up awaiting decommisioning at the naval bases and shipyards of the Russian Pacific fleet.
Throughout the past year, our mission at the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center has focused on two key, but intertwined issues—nuclear and radiation safety as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drags on, and the worldwide influence of Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, which itself is actively involved in the war and has participated in the occupation of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant.
At the beginning of the year, reports in the German and Russian press suggested an approximate 70% increase in uranium imports from Russia to Germany in 2024. But does this reflect broader European trends? It does not. Overall, imports of uranium and nuclear fuel from Russia to Western countries actually dropped sharply in 2024. Unlike the situation in Germany, this is already an established trend.
A Lingen, Germany plant could begin producing nuclear fuel in cooperation with a subsidiary of Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear corporation, which is directly involved in the war in Ukraine and occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.