The Russian scientific expedition identifies locations of nuclear waste disposal that have been forgotten. This discovery not only helps clarify waste disposal activities during the Cold War, but also raises new concerns about environmental risks in the context of the rapidly warming Arctic.
In a recent survey mission in the Barents Sea, a Russian research vessel found remnants of Likhter-4, a Soviet-era barge that was intentionally sunk in 1988.
This ship used to carry 2 reactor compartments dismantled from submarine K-22, along with 146 boxes containing solid radioactive waste.
The confirmation of the location of Likhter-4 is considered a breakthrough, after many years scientists have encountered deadlock due to inaccurate archival records and harsh survey conditions in the Arctic.
According to researchers, from the 1960s to the late 1980s, the Soviet Union brought a large volume of used nuclear fuel, reactor parts and sealed radioactive materials into the deep northern sea areas, with the aim of isolating them from residential areas and public surveillance.
However, many documents related to these activities are incomplete or contradictory, making environmental risk assessment difficult over the decades.
To track down Likhter-4, Russian scientists combined rebuilding storage materials with modern survey technology. Horizontal scanning sonar, gamma spectrometers and remote control devices were deployed to map the seabed and check the condition of the shipwreck.
The measurement results showed that there were no signs of radioactive leakage actively entering the surrounding water column. Some small radiation levels recorded were thought to be due to remaining surface pollution, not due to structural damage or shielding.
In parallel with that, the expedition also confirmed the location of another barge, commonly known as Nikel, which was suspected of containing nearly 580 tons of radioactive waste.
Sonar images and visual data have helped researchers map this object, thereby adding an important piece to the picture of the "nuclear graveyard" at the bottom of the Arctic.
Another focus of the mission is the K-27 submarine, which was sunk in 1981, in Stepovoy Bay with nuclear fuel still on board.
The K-27 once encountered a serious reactor incident in 1968 and was considered too dangerous to dismantle using technology at that time.
Although the latest survey has not detected leaks into the water environment, scientists still consider the K-27 to be one of the most dangerous submerged nuclear objects in the world, due to the use of a rare lead-bismuth reactor system.
Faced with these findings, Russian researchers are considering establishing a permanent underwater monitoring station near sensitive points to monitor long-term stability and detect any fluctuations early.
