Satellite Imagery Captures Russia’s Pacific Fleet Submarines

Satellite imagery shows recent activity by Russia’s submarine fleet in the country’s Far East region, where Moscow maintains a strong military presence.

Newsweek has emailed both the Russian defense and foreign ministries for comment.

Why It Matters

Despite its ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia continues to flex military power in the Far East, including exercises and naval deployments. The Russian Pacific Fleet recently revealed submarine operations involving a vessel designed to launch nuclear missiles.

Russia is also expanding its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, which President Vladimir Putin said in July is key to building a modern, powerful navy that ensures the country’s security and defends its national interests across the world’s oceans.

Russia’s chief adversary, the United States, has deployed nuclear-powered submarines across the Pacific between East Asia and Hawaii as part of its regional military posture to deter and defend against aggression.

What To Know

@MT_Anderson, an open-source intelligence analyst on the social media platform X, shared October 3 satellite imagery on Tuesday showing five Russian submarines of four different types at a shipyard in Bolshoy Kamen, near Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East.

The analyst identified the submarines, which are nuclear-powered, as one potential Yasen-M-class cruise missile submarine, a Borei-class ballistic missile submarine, an Oscar II-class cruise missile submarine and two Akula-class attack submarines.

Among the five submarines, only the Borei-class is capable of carrying missiles for nuclear strikes. In late September, a Borei-class submarine was spotted sailing near Japan’s Hokkaido Island as it moved from the Pacific Ocean toward the Far East mainland.

“Bolshoy Kamen is where nuclear [submarines] typically get maintenance in the Far East,” @GrangerE04117, a Russian naval observer on X, said of the satellite imagery.

@MT_Anderson previously shared September 21 satellite imagery showing the Russian Pacific Fleet submarine base in Rybachiy on the Kamchatka Peninsula, capturing one Borei-class submarine, one Akula-class submarine and two Oscar II-class submarines.

The base was reportedly damaged by a tsunami following an 8.8-magnitude earthquake centered approximately 75 miles offshore on July 30. Satellite images appear to show a pier section at the base visibly bent and detached from its moorings.

What People Are Saying

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in July: “We will fully implement our plans to create a modern, powerful Navy, capable of ensuring Russia’s security and defending our national interests across all areas of the World Ocean. There can be no doubt about this.”

Japan’s defense white paper 2025 commented: “The Russian military is continuing active military activities in the vicinity of Japan and its surrounding areas, showing its tendency to deploy the latest military equipment in the Far East. Russia’s military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, coupled with its strategic partnership with China, are posing a strong security concern.”

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether the Russian military will assign new naval vessels to the Pacific Fleet to counter U.S.-led alliances with Japan and South Korea in the region.