The remains of the once powerful Soviet nuclear submarine fleet are lying in crumbling shipyards. Many of these are in the northern Kola Peninsula. With Russia lacking the money to dispose of the nuclear waste safely, the radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel pose a tremendous environmental hazard. At least 104 decommissioned submarines are resting in shipyards and docks, many of them still have their nuclear fuel on board. The Northern and Pacific fleets have 72,000 spent nuclear fuel assemblies.
Nowhere to go
Only a few trains each year carry nuclear waste for reproaching, and the number has declined over years
Year
Number of trains
Number of containers
1984
10
586
1985
9
503
1986
3
155
1987
7
386
1988
6
329
1989
7
426
1990
4
235
1991
3
216
1992
3
216
1993
4
280
1994
1
12
1995
4
48
Source:
Bellona Foundation
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