Vladislav Nikiforov

The infrastructure of the Pacific fleet is dilapidated and perhaps the most difficult naval nuclear dismantlement project in Russia. Unlike the Northwest, which now has a well established infrastructure, the Pacific Fleet, which is home to some 40 submarines awaiting dismantlement with their nuclear fuel one board, posed a bigger challenge. These derelict subs are moored from 100 kilmetres to a 1000 kilometres from the nearest dismantlement point. Many are rusted out and thus great care, and great investment, is required from Russia and donor states to assure their safe transport. In all, some 14,000 fuel assemblies remain on board these submarines. The amount stored on nuclear service vessels is unknown.