Russia Issues Arctic Barents Sea Maritime Closure for Missile Launches Along Novaya Zemlya Coastline

On 7 October 2025, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense filed a maritime closure area in the Arctic portion of the Barents Sea to ensure safe lanes for Russian Navy missile launches from 12 to 14 October. The activities are to be conducted in a range extending from the eastern coastline of Kanin Peninsula northwardContinueContinue reading “Russia Issues Arctic Barents Sea Maritime Closure for Missile Launches Along Novaya Zemlya Coastline”

Four Barents Sea Area Closures for Russian Navy Missile Launch Activities Scheduled for 13-15 September 2025

On 8 and 9 September 2025, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense filed four maritime closure areas in the Barents Sea to ensure safe lanes for missile launch activities from 13 to 15 September at various times for each declaration. The following show the Russian declarations, translated into English, as well as an approximate imageContinueContinue reading “Four Barents Sea Area Closures for Russian Navy Missile Launch Activities Scheduled for 13-15 September 2025”

Russian Ministry of Defense Issues Maritime Closure Areas in Barents Sea for Special Operations, 2-7 September 2025

On 29 August 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued two maritime closure areas in the Barents Sea and Motovskiy Zaliv for “special operations,” presumably involving the Russian Federation Navy (given the number of naval bases within a day’s sailing range – see images below). Note: The term “special operations” is not meant to implyContinueContinue reading “Russian Ministry of Defense Issues Maritime Closure Areas in Barents Sea for Special Operations, 2-7 September 2025”

Barents Sea Area Closures Reach the Arctic for Russian Navy Missile Launches Scheduled for 27-31 August 2025

On 22 August 2025, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense filed a large maritime closure area that stretches from Murmansk, across the Barents, and into the Arctic to ensure safe lanes for missile launches from 27 to 31 August, with a local time window of 0300-2100 GMT each day. While the Russian-issued advisory offered noContinueContinue reading “Barents Sea Area Closures Reach the Arctic for Russian Navy Missile Launches Scheduled for 27-31 August 2025”

Russian Destroyer Severomorsk Conducts ASW Exercise in Barents Sea En Route to Arctic

A press release dated 19 August 2025 from the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense indicates that the large ASW ship (Udaloy-class destroyer) Severomorsk, on her way to the Arctic for a long deployment as part of Northern Fleet expeditionary detachment, took part in antisubmarine warfare maneuvers in the northern regions of the Barents Sea. TheContinueContinue reading “Russian Destroyer Severomorsk Conducts ASW Exercise in Barents Sea En Route to Arctic”

Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Kursk

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the K-141 Kursk, the Northern Fleet’s Project 949A nuclear submarine. The general picture is still clear in the minds of those who were “around “in the trade” when it took place – the first major Russian Navy exercise in a decade, while sailing submerged inContinueContinue reading “Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Kursk”

Arctic Ocean Area Closures for Russian Navy Missile Launches Scheduled for 18-20 August 2025

On 11 August 2025, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense filed three maritime closure areas that encompass the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Kara Sea, and Cheshskaya Guba to ensure safe lanes for missile launches from 18 to 20 August, with a local time window of 1300-2100 GMT each day. While the Russian-issued advisory offered noContinueContinue reading “Arctic Ocean Area Closures for Russian Navy Missile Launches Scheduled for 18-20 August 2025”

Russian Briefing Sheds Light on Locations, Radioactivity Levels of Submerged Submarines and Nuclear Waste in the Arctic and Far East

The Russian Academy of Science and the Russian Federation Ministry of Science and Higher Education hosted the three-day conference “Modern Methods and Means of Oceanological Research” from 13 to 15 May 2025 in Moscow and the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology. The conference is held every two years, and is devoted to a number of disciplinesContinueContinue reading “Russian Briefing Sheds Light on Locations, Radioactivity Levels of Submerged Submarines and Nuclear Waste in the Arctic and Far East”

Ill-Fated Soviet Nuclear Submarine ‘Komsomolets’ Sets Depth Record on This Date in 1985

A press release issued today, 4 August 2025, from Russia’s Northern Shipyard – Sevmash – celebrated the 40th anniversary of the world’s depth record (1027 meters) being set in 1985 by the Project 685 nuclear submarine Komsomolets, built at the Sevmash facility. To date, this record has not been surpassed by any fleet in theContinueContinue reading “Ill-Fated Soviet Nuclear Submarine ‘Komsomolets’ Sets Depth Record on This Date in 1985”