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 Arctic Barents Sea and Kara Sea. From the late 1960s to the late 1980s, approximately 18,000 containers of radioactive waste were sunk in these waters. This includes the nuclear submarines K-27 and K-159. K-27 was intentionally scrapped in 1982, while K-159 sank during a towing operation in 2003. K-27 lies in 33 meters of shallow water, and K-159 rests at a depth of 200 meters, raising concerns about the environmental risks each poses.

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 Arctic Barents Sea and Kara Sea. From the late 1960s to the late 1980s, approximately 18,000 containers of radioactive waste were sunk in these waters. This includes the nuclear submarines K-27 and K-159. K-27 was intentionally scrapped in 1982, while K-159 sank during a towing operation in 2003. K-27 lies in 33 meters of shallow water, and K-159 rests at a depth of 200 meters, raising concerns about the environmental risks each poses.

At the time, the ocean dumping of this waste followed a "out of sight, out of mind" policy that downplayed environmental impacts. Although the London Convention banned ocean dumping of radioactive waste in 1993, another 11 reactors were dumped at sea by 1994, some containing spent nuclear fuel.

### 2. Current Status and Efforts in the 2020s In recent years, Russia has initiated a plan to remove these wastes. Led by Rosatom, this plan aims to remove six major wastes over eight years. The removal costs are estimated at 278 million euros (approximately 4.5 billion yen), with 57.5 million euros earmarked for raising K-159.

To date, the Norwegian government has contributed 150 million euros to support nuclear safety projects in the Arctic. However, the removal operations are technically complex and carry risks of radioactive leakage, demanding careful execution. K-27 is often referred to as a "radioactive time bomb," necessitating urgent countermeasures.

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