On 24 July 2025, the Russian Navy officially commissioned the Knyaz Pozharsky (K-555), a Project 955A Borei-A-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, in a high-profile ceremony attended by President Vladimir Putin at the Gadzhiyevo naval base in Murmansk region.

The event marked the vessel’s formal entry into service with the Northern Fleet and underscored Moscow’s continued investment in strategic undersea capabilities.

Knyaz Pozharsky is the seventh submarine in the Borei series and the fifth of the upgraded Borei-A subclass. Built at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, it represents a modernisation of earlier designs, incorporating enhanced stealth features, more advanced onboard systems, and an increased ability to operate undetected in contested maritime theatres. According to Russian officials, the submarine is intended to operate primarily in the Arctic and North Atlantic, key regions for Russia’s second-strike and strategic deterrence doctrine.

Technical Features and Armament

With a submerged displacement of around 24,000 tonnes and a length of approximately 170 metres, Knyaz Pozharsky matches the scale of NATO’s most capable strategic submarines. It is powered by a pressurised water-cooled nuclear reactor (OK-650 series) and achieves submerged speeds of up to 29 knots. The crew complement is around 107 personnel.

The submarine is equipped with 16 RSM-56 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), each capable of carrying 4 to 6 independently targetable nuclear warheads. This gives the submarine a potential nuclear payload of up to 96 warheads. The Bulava missile is specifically designed for survivability in modern missile defence environments and forms the maritime leg of Russia’s strategic nuclear triad.

Beyond its SLBM arsenal, Knyaz Pozharsky carries six 533mm torpedo tubes, capable of launching torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and mines. It is also fitted with the REPS-324 Shlagbaum anti-torpedo system and can deploy the RPK-2 Viyugaanti-submarine missile, further enhancing its survivability in contested waters.

Stealth and Survivability

The Borei-A class represents a significant leap forward from the original Borei design. It features reduced acoustic signatures due to improved hull shaping and quieter propulsion systems, as well as upgraded sonar and electronic warfare suites. These enhancements are aimed at slipping past NATO surveillance systems in the North Atlantic and Arctic, where US, UK, and French submarines routinely operate.

Russia’s emphasis on acoustic stealth has been particularly evident in its design revisions for the Borei-A class. According to military sources, Knyaz Pozharsky is intended to remain undetected for extended periods under the polar ice cap, providing Russia with a secure second-strike platform in the event of a nuclear conflict.

A Strategic Asset in Context

With its commissioning, Knyaz Pozharsky joins the ranks of 14 Russian nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, including eight Borei-class and six older Delta-IV class units. As of mid-2025, the Russian submarine fleet comprises 79 boats, 54 of which are nuclear-powered.

President Putin announced during the commissioning that Russia plans to deploy six additional nuclear-powered submarines by 2030, several of which are expected to carry Poseidon — an unmanned nuclear-powered underwater vehicle capable of operating at depths of up to 1,000 metres with a reported range of 10,000 kilometres. The Poseidon is believed to carry a nuclear payload of several megatons, with some estimates suggesting up to 100 megatons.

The broader strategic objective, according to Nikolai Patrushev, chair of the Russian Maritime Board, is a naval development programme extending through 2050, focused on second-strike survivability and undersea dominance.

Western Equivalents

Knyaz Pozharsky is broadly comparable to the United States Navy’s Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, which currently carry up to 24 Trident II D5 SLBMs and are the principal sea-based leg of the US nuclear deterrent. Although older — commissioned between 1981 and 1997 — the Ohio-class remains in service while the US prepares to transition to the new Columbia-class submarines, expected from the early 2030s.

The UK’s Vanguard-class and France’s Triomphant-class SSBNs offer similar capabilities on a smaller scale, with each carrying 16 SLBMs. However, the Borei-A class is believed to match, and in some areas potentially exceed, Western SSBNs in terms of stealth characteristics, missile integration, and operational endurance in Arctic conditions.

Intelligence Breach

While the strategic and technical features of Knyaz Pozharsky are central to its role, the submarine recently became the subject of a separate intelligence development. Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) has claimed to have obtained a trove of internal documentation related to the vessel, including crew lists, engineering schematics, combat instructions, and internal schedules.

While the method of acquisition has not been disclosed, the breach points to serious vulnerabilities in Russian operational security. Although it may not immediately compromise the submarine’s technical performance, the exposure of internal documentation raises questions about the competence and reliability of Russia’s military command and control systems.

Conclusion

Knyaz Pozharsky represents the latest attempt by Russia to reinforce its strategic submarine fleet and assert its presence in contested maritime spaces. While designed for stealth, endurance, and nuclear strike capability, its deployment also reflects a broader pattern of militarisation and geopolitical signalling rather than transparent defence planning. As global naval dynamics evolve and Arctic waters become increasingly contested, the launch of Knyaz Pozharsky illustrates the Kremlin’s continued reliance on nuclear posturing to project power—despite persistent structural weaknesses, security lapses, and growing international scrutiny.