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Weather conditions delay Russian nuclear sub’s arrival in Kamchatka — source

After its arrival in Kamchatka, the Alexander Nevsky will not launch a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile

MOSCOW, September 7. /TASS/. The Alexander Nevsky Borei-class strategic nuclear submarine will join the Russian Pacific Fleet later than scheduled over complex weather and ice conditions, a source at the Fleet’s headquarters told TASS on Monday.

The sub is expected to arrive in the second ten-day period of September, the source added.

The Alexander Nevsky left the Gadzhiyevo base in the Murmansk Region in northwest Russia on August 15 and was expected to arrive at its base in the settlement of Rybachiy in Kamchatka during the first ten-day period of September.

However, its arrival was postponed due to complex weather and ice conditions and a number of other reasons. The submarine is now expected to arrive at the base in the second ten-day period of the month," the source said.

After its arrival in Kamchatka, the Alexander Nevsky will not launch a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile, at least, until the end of the year, the source added.

"The submarine’s ammunition load totals 16 Bulava missiles with multiple nuclear-tipped warheads. This makes it impossible for the submarine to launch Bulava missiles from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Chizha range in the Arkhangelsk region," the source said.

The Alexander Nevsky will go to sea for combat patrolling approximately in October, a source at the Russian General Staff told TASS earlier. It was planned initially that the Pacific Fleet would receive two Borei-class submarines this year but the arrival of the Vladimir Monomakh sub was postponed.