“I am afraid this year we will not be entirely technically prepared for this,” Kuroyedov told reporters. “The submarine will be definitely raised in any case” he stressed. But, so far, no decision has been taken on the exact time of lifting it, the admiral said. “We shall raise it when we are ready,” he added. The retired K-159 sank on August 30 last year, as it was towed to a dockyard for dismantling. Only one of its ten crewmen was saved.

In the earlier statements Kuroyedov promised to raise the submarine by autumn 2004. The salvage operation was originally to take place in August and September 2004.