Putin Confirms Fire-Hit Submersible Was Nuclear-Powered

Moscow—The nuclear reactor on one of the Russian navy’s research submersibles hasn’t been damaged in a fire that killed 14 seamen, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on July 4, adding that the vessel would be put back into service after repairs.

A retired B-413 Soviet submarine docked next to the naval museum in Kaliningrad, Russia on June 20, 2018. Ozan Kose/AFP/File Photo via Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosed on July 4 for the first time that a secret military submarine hit by a fatal fire three days ago was nuclear-powered, prompting the defense minister to assure him its reactor had been safely contained.

Putin revealed that the submarine had been nuclear-powered by asking Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during a Kremlin meeting about the reactor’s condition after the fire.