This fish isn't ordinary; it's radioactive. An incident involving a sunken submarine has been addressed in the Murmansk region.

Interagency exercises "Safe Arctic" are taking place in 10 regions, with each participating subject selecting the emergencies to practice. Naturally, scenarios that are most relevant and likely were prioritized. For instance, in Varandei, there was a simulated oil spill from a tank, while in the Karelia region's Segozha, a train collision and a bus falling through the ice were staged.

In the Murmansk Region, four scenarios were practiced simultaneously – more than in other regions. On January 30, a "mountain strike" occurred at one of the mines in Kirovsk due to an earthquake, and a fire broke out at an industrial facility due to an oil spill. The day before, rescuers conducted drills on the slope of Mount Kukisvumchorr near the namesake ski resort, where an avalanche was said to have descended on people. Another legend, specifically its theme – radiation – is not an empty phrase for the northerners.

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Fishermen's vehicle was decontaminated for radioactive traces. Photo: EMERCOM of Murmansk Region

There are numerous "nuclear" locations on the Kola Peninsula – "Atomflot" with its icebreakers powered by nuclear reactors, the only nuclear power plant in the region – the Kola NPP, and a base for nuclear submarines. In 2023, the most dangerous nuclear facility in the country was decommissioned in the Murmansk Region – the floating technical base "Leps" was disposed of, which could have become a second "Chernobyl".

The legend of the scenario regarding the elimination of a radiation disaster within the "Safe Arctic" framework was created based on real events: in August 2003, during towing for disposal, the submarine K-159 sank.

It was listed among the Navy's ships on October 3, 1961, and in August 2003, K-159 was towed from the mouth of the Gremikha River to the Kut Bay shipyard "Nerpa" for unloading nuclear fuel. However, the submarine never reached its destination. Around four in the morning on August 30, during a three-point storm, the K-159 lost its bow pair of floating pontoons, leading to its sinking near Kildin Island. An hour later, ships from the Northern Fleet and rescue vessels arrived at the tragedy site, but nine submariners lost their lives.

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Fishermen who decided to fish near Kildin Island were unaware of the underwater danger. Photo: EMERCOM of Murmansk Region

The submarine still lies on the seabed. Over the past 11 years, the site has been surveyed multiple times for nuclear fuel leaks and radiation level exceedances, and specialists have consistently reported – clean!

Nonetheless, during the "Safe Arctic," the worst-case scenario was considered: what if K-159 suddenly started emitting radiation. Incidentally, the location where the submarine sank is very popular among fishermen, which formed the basis of the legend.

"According to the exercise legend, the Kurchatov Institute was conducting scheduled work in the waters of the Barents Sea in the Murmansk Region to study an underwater, potentially hazardous object. At that moment, an accident occurred - a breach of the first circuit and heat-emitting elements. A threat arose in the waters that could cause significant damage in the marine depths and affect the flora and fauna within a ten-meter radius of the pollution source. In light of the escalating crisis, emergency signals were sent to responding units of various agencies and organizations. Everyone needed to do everything possible to prevent a catastrophe," explained the legend at EMERCOM of Murmansk Region.

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One of the fishermen felt unwell due to radiation exposure and was taken to "Pirogovka." Photo: EMERCOM of Murmansk Region

The radiation leak affected fishermen who went to catch cod near Kildin Island. They were unaware of the underwater danger, fished peacefully, and happily returned home with their catch. However, at the Kildinskaya traffic police post, the stationary automated system for detecting radioactive materials suddenly activated – it turned out that the cod was emitting radiation.

Immediately, several services quickly arrived at the traffic police post – after the system was triggered, information was sent to the Crisis Management Center of the EMERCOM of Russia for the Murmansk Region, the operational duty officer of the Murmansk Region Government, the traffic police, JSC "ATC Rosatom," the Northwest Center "SevRAO" – a branch of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "RADON," and the Federal State Budgetary Institution "MMЦ named after N.I. Pirogov" of the FMBA of Russia.

The fish was confiscated, packaged to ensure it was safe for the public, and taken for disposal. One of the fishermen was sent to the hospital after feeling unwell due to radiation exposure.

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The gamma spectrometer of the underwater apparatus "Rovbuilder" searched for dangerous levels. Photo: EMERCOM of Murmansk Region

At the same time, actions were taking place on the water, as the submarine, according to the legend, remained dangerous. Specialists from the capital were brought in with the most modern technology for this task.

"The practical actions of the exercises unfolded in two intense acts. The first phase was conducted near Big Varlamov Island, where the phrases 'navigation restrictions' and 'radiation monitoring' became the leitmotif. The Border Guard Service ship acted as a sentinel, while the underwater apparatus 'Rovbuilder,' along with the forces of the special risk rescue operations center 'Leader' of EMERCOM of Russia, descended into the depths of the sea, ready for exploration. Onboard, a gamma spectrometer acted as a vigilant eye, searching for dangerous levels," EMERCOM officials reported.

At the same time, specialists from the All-Russian Research Institute for Civil Defense and Emergency Situations of EMERCOM of Russia were working. Their task was to develop methodological recommendations based on the measurement results on what actions to take.

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The underwater apparatus "Rovbuilder," along with the forces of the special risk rescue operations center "Leader" of EMERCOM of Russia, was deployed to the sea to inspect the submarine. Photo: EMERCOM of Murmansk Region

"Research tasks were successfully addressed, and the organization of interaction for preparing management bodies to respond to emergencies in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation was established. In total, 104 individuals and 14 units of equipment from EMERCOM of Russia and the functional and territorial subsystems of the RSChS of the Murmansk Region participated in this exercise," summarized the results of the exercise Nikita Naidenov, Deputy Head of the Civil Defense and Population Protection Department of EMERCOM of Murmansk Region.

Incidents involving radiation in the Kola Arctic have been practiced before. During the "Safe Arctic" in 2023, there was a scenario where an atomic icebreaker supposedly caught fire.

Interestingly, a similar incident actually occurred in Murmansk later – in December of the same year, a fire broke out on the nuclear lighter "Sevmorput" at the "Atomflot" base.