SUBMARINE “YAKUTSK” OFFICIALLY COMMISSIONED INTO THE RUSSIAN NAVY

In a solemn ceremony held at the USC Admiralty Shipyards in Saint Petersburg, the Russian Navy officially received the diesel-electric submarine “Yakutsk”, of Project 636.3.

The event was attended by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Vladimir Vorobyov, who oversaw the delivery of the new vessel to the Pacific Fleet.

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During the ceremony, Vorobyov congratulated the shipbuilders and submarine crew on behalf of Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev. He also wished the team success in their future missions, emphasizing the importance of serving with honor under the St. Andrew’s flag, which was symbolically hoisted aboard the vessel.

“Yakutsk” is the sixth submarine in the series intended for the Pacific Fleet. Construction began in August 2021, and the official launch took place in October 2024, under the supervision of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After its launch, the submarine successfully passed rigorous sea trials and naval testing conducted by the shipyard and the Navy.

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The Russian Ministry of Defense highlighted the strategic importance of integrating “Yakutsk” into the nation’s naval power and released images and details of the ceremony on its official Telegram channel.

Project 636.3 Submarines

The Project 636.3 “Varshavyanka” submarines (known to NATO as Improved Kilo II) are modernized versions of the older Soviet Kilo-class (Project 877), developed by Rubin and mainly built at the Admiralty Shipyard in Saint Petersburg.

With a length of approximately 74 meters and a surface displacement of 2,300 tons (about 3,100–4,000 tons submerged), they feature diesel-electric propulsion and reduced acoustic signature thanks to anechoic coating and sonar systems.

They have an endurance of up to 45 days at sea and an operational range of thousands of kilometers.

In addition to six 533 mm torpedo and mine tubes, Project 636.3 submarines can launch up to four Kalibr cruise missiles through these tubes, making them a threat to both naval and land targets.

Six units were built for the Black Sea Fleet (2014–2016), and another six for the Pacific Fleet (2019–2023), with the last one, “Yakutsk”, launched in October 2024.

Their combination of stealth, firepower, and low cost (around US$200–250 million) makes them the backbone of Russia’s conventional submarine force.

Source and images: Russian Ministry of Defense. Telegram @mod_russia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.

2025-06-13T19:29:33Z