History and Current Status of Russia’s Ocean Dumping of Radioactive Waste (2020s)

History and Current Status of Russia's Ocean Dumping of Radioactive Waste (2020s)

### 1. Historical Background
Since the Soviet era, Russia has continued the practice of dumping radioactive waste into the Barents Sea and the Kara Sea in the Arctic. From the late 1960s to the late 1980s, approximately 18,000 items of waste containing radioactive materials were sunk in these waters. Among them were the nuclear submarines K-27 and K-159. K-27 was intentionally scrapped in 1982, and K-159 sank during a towing operation in 2003. K-27 lies in shallow waters at a depth of 33 meters, while K-159 lies at a depth of 200 meters, and concerns have been raised regarding the environmental risks posed by each.

At the time, the ocean dumping of this waste was carried out under a policy of "putting it out of sight," which downplayed the environmental impact. Although the London Convention banned the ocean dumping of radioactive waste in 1993, 11 more reactors were dumped into the sea by 1994, some of which contained spent nuclear fuel.

### 2. Current Status and Initiatives in the 2020s
In recent years, Russia has launched a plan to remove this waste. Led by Rosatom, the plan aims to remove six major pieces of waste over an eight-year period. The cost of removal is estimated at 278 million euros (approximately 4.5 billion yen), with 57.5 million euros allocated for the salvage of the K-159.

To date, the Norwegian government has contributed 150 million euros to support nuclear safety projects in the Arctic. However, the removal work is technically complex and carries the risk of radioactive leakage, requiring careful execution. The K-27 is often referred to as a "radioactive time bomb," and urgent measures are needed.

### 3. Future Challenges
This issue has the potential to have long-term impacts on the entire Arctic ecosystem and fishery resources, making international cooperation essential. Led by Russia, this project is expected to serve as an important model case for environmental protection in the Arctic through cooperation with the international community.