Mystery around state of Russian submarine base close to megaquake epicentre
The Rybachiy nuclear submarine base – home to Vladimir Putin's deadliest military vessels – is located 75 miles from the epicentre of the strongest seismic event in the Far East since 1952.
This proximity – and the secrecy around it – has raised immediate global concerns.
The site is the backbone of his Pacific Fleet, hosting the 'Alexander Nevsky' and 'Vladimir Monomakh' submarines, each armed with 16 Bulava missiles, and the nuclear-powered K-44 Ryazan submarine.
No other base in eastern Russia is believed to have equivalent capabilities, so its state is closely guarded by the Kremlin.
If the earthquake or resulting tsunami caused any structural damage to the facility – especially to nuclear reactors – the consequences could be severe.
In a worst-case scenario, a failure at Rybachiy could lead to uncontrolled radiation leaks, accidental missile launches, or total loss of containment over nuclear assets.
Beyond environmental risks, even the perception of instability at a strategic nuclear site could heighten geopolitical tensions.
Any disruption to the base's command systems or security protocols may be seen by other nations as a potential vulnerability, prompting increased military alert levels.
The Russian Ministry of Defence has so far not issued a public statement about the operational status of Rybachiy or any submarines.
Authorities in the Kamchatka Peninsula have generally downplayed the impact from the earthquake and ensuing tsunami waves that reached as high as 13 feet. More Trending
So far there have been no reports of fatalities or serious injuries, and the threat to a tsunami has been removed.
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As many as 50 aftershocks followed the initial earthquake, with Russian seismologists warning that tremors could persist for at least a month, with renewed tsunami threats not ruled out.
It comes as a 4.8-magnitude earthquake was detected 86 miles south of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky early this morning.
Footage circulating on Telegram shows floods of water hitting Kamchatka, sweeping away buildings and damaging port infrastructure.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: I've studied tsunamis for 25 years – here are the deadly warning signs one is on its way
MORE: Tsunami warnings still in place after 8.8 magnitude Russian earthquake
MORE: Whales eerily become beached hours before earthquake – do they predict them?
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