Sunk K-159 submarine was withdrawn from combat formation of Russian Navy almost 15 years ago

The nuclear K-159 submarine which sank on Saturday in the Barents Sea was being towed to the works for utilization.

10 members of the crew were on board the submarine. Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, chief of the general staff of the Russian Navy reported that "3 sailors were raised on board. One was alive, and they were looking for the others." The board was towed on 4 pontoons. Because of the storm pontoons broke away as a result of which the submarine lost its stability and sank.

The submarine was to be towed to the SRZ-10 ship-repairing works in the city of Polyarny (North of Russia).

Russian defense minister Sergei Ivanov immediately reported the accident to President Vladimir Putin.

Russian defense minister ordered Vladimir Kuroyedov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, to fly to Severomosk.

On 16 July 1989 the sunken submarine was taken out of the combat formation of the Navy and was stationed near the base location of Gremikha waiting for utilization. The submarine's nuclear reactor was placed in the state of nuclear safety and the ammunition was unloaded.

The general staff of the Russian Navy reported that the radiation background at the site of the accident was normal, as back in 1989 both reactors were shut down and placed in the state of nuclear safety.