New Satellite Images Reveal Russia’s Nuclear Submarine Base Was Damaged By Tsunami

New satellite images have revealed that Russia’s nuclear submarine base on the Kamchatka Peninsula suffered damage during last week’s powerful earthquake and tsunami. The base, located in Rybachiy and home to part of the Russian Pacific Fleet, was hit by waves triggered by one of the strongest seismic events the region has experienced in decades.

According to commercial satellite imagery released by Planet Labs, one of the floating piers at the base appears to have been significantly damaged. A section of the pier seems to have broken away from its mooring, though the rest of the base shows no signs of extensive harm. Several submarines, including at least five, were still visible docked safely at adjacent piers. Despite the visible damage, Russia has made no official statement, and there has been no mention of the incident in Russian media.

International nuclear monitoring agencies have not reported any spike in radiation or other indicators of danger from the facility. This suggests that while some infrastructure was impacted, there was no direct threat to the nuclear submarines themselves or the security of any warheads potentially housed at the site.

The Rybachiy base is a critical asset in Russia’s naval strategy, serving as the primary hub for its Pacific Fleet’s nuclear-powered submarines. It holds strategic importance due to its proximity to the United States and the broader Pacific theater. Any damage or disruption to operations there would have implications beyond Russia’s borders.

Some of the floating piers at the base are relatively new, installed after the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine in 2022. Satellite analysts noted that while most of these structures remain intact, the tsunami caused visible disruption to at least one pier. The base’s location inside a natural cove was meant to protect it from ocean storms, but the force of last week’s tsunami was evidently enough to breach that natural defense.

Engineer Logan Garbarini posted side-by-side satellite comparisons using imagery from Umbra Space and earlier Google/Maxar data to illustrate the before-and-after conditions of the base. His analysis confirms that damage occurred specifically along the waterfront infrastructure, while other core buildings and vessels appear unaffected.

This incident also comes at a time of growing tension between Russia and the West, with Moscow recently announcing its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The timing of these events adds an extra layer of significance to the damage at Rybachiy, even if the physical impact is not catastrophic.

The earthquake that caused the tsunami registered a magnitude of 8.8 and struck about 75 miles offshore from the base. It triggered a chain of events that affected much of Russia’s Pacific coastline. A video has since circulated showing the moment the waves hit, capturing the sheer force of the natural disaster as it reached the strategically sensitive site.