Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, took part in the ceremony in Severodvinsk on July 24, 2025, to raise the naval flag on the strategic nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine K-555 “Knyaz Pozharsky” (yard number 208), a modified Project 09552 (Project 955A, codename “Borei-A”) submarine. The “Knyaz Pozharsky” is the eighth next-generation SSBN in the “Borei” family and the fifth strategic nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) of the modified Project 09552 (Project 955A, “Borei-A”). The submarine was built for the Russian Navy at the “Production Association “Severny Mashinostroitelny Zavod” (Sevmash), which is a subsidiary of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) in Severodvinsk.
Ceremony Attendees
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, Governor of Arkhangelsk Region Alexander Tsybulsky, Presidential Assistants Alexei Dyumin and Nikolai Patrushev, and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov were also in attendance at the ceremony.
Construction and Launch Details
The “Knyaz Pozharsky” (yard number 208) was built at Sevmash under a contract agreed on May 25, 2012, between the Russian Ministry of Defense and USC for four serial Project 955A (“Borei-A”) SSBNs in the following yards: 205, 206, 207, and 208. On December 23, 2016, the fourth and final SSBN under this contract, K-555 “Knyaz Pozharsky,” was laid down at Sevmash. On February 3, 2024, the submarine was transported from the Sevmash shipyard for launch. It initiated its first sea trials from Severodvinsk on July 28, 2024. The vessel has now been incorporated into the 31st Submarine Division of the Northern Fleet’s Submarine Forces, and it is now in service with the Russian Navy.
Key Milestones of Other Project 955A SSBNs
- K-552 “Knyaz Oleg” (yard number 205): Laid down on July 27, 2014, launched on July 16, 2020, and delivered to the Navy on December 21, 2021.
- K-553 “Generalissimus Suvorov” (yard number 206): Laid down on December 26, 2014, launched on December 25, 2021, and delivered on December 29, 2022.
- K-554 “Imperator Alexander III” (yard number 207): Laid down on December 18, 2015, launched on December 29, 2022, and delivered on December 11, 2023.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense contracted USC in July 2020 to produce two additional Project 955A (“Borei-A”) SSBNs, designated as 209 “Dmitry Donskoy” and 210 “Knyaz Potemkin.” These vessels were officially cast down at Sevmash on August 23, 2021.
Prototype and Earlier Borei-Class Submarines
The prototype Project 955A (“Borei-A”) SSBN, K-549 “Knyaz Vladimir” (yard number 204), was built under a distinct contract dated May 25, 2012. It was cast down on July 30, 2012 (actual construction commenced in 2009), launched on November 17, 2017, commenced sea trials on November 28, 2018, and was commissioned on June 12, 2020.
Before this, Sevmash built and delivered the initial three “Borei” SSBNs of Project 955 (Project 09551) to the Navy:
- K-535 “Yury Dolgorukiy” (yard 201, handed over January 10, 2013)
- K-550 “Alexander Nevsky” (yard 202, transferred December 23, 2013)
- K-551 “Vladimir Monomakh” (yard 203, transferred December 19, 2014)
Current Strategic SSBN Assignments
Currently, the strategic nuclear submarines that are in active service are categorized as follows:
Northern Fleet: 31st Submarine Division
- “Yury Dolgorukiy” (Project 955)
- “Knyaz Vladimir” (Project 955A)
- “Knyaz Pozharsky” (Project 955A)
Pacific Fleet: 25th Submarine Division (Vilyuchinsk)
- “Alexander Nevsky” (Project 955)
- “Vladimir Monomakh” (Project 955)
- “Knyaz Oleg” (Project 955A)
- “Generalissimus Suvorov” (Project 955A)
- “Imperator Alexander III” (Project 955A, joined September 25, 2024)
Submarine Development Strategy – Putin’s Statement
On the same day, President Putin addressed a meeting regarding the Navy’s submarine development strategy, stating:
“The Navy has acquired five Borei-A class strategic missile submarines and four Yasen-M-class multipurpose submarines in the last six years.” That is an impressive rate of nearly two submarines per year, or approximately one and a half submarines per year.
Strengthening the strategic submarine force remains a top priority, as the construction of strategic missile-carrying submarines is a critical component of the Russian nuclear triad and is essential for the preservation of the global balance of power.
Four additional Borei-A boats will be added to the Russian naval nuclear forces in the years ahead; two of these vessels are currently under construction. These strategic submarines of the most recent iteration are equipped with Bulava ballistic missiles and other sophisticated weapons.
The multipurpose Yasen-M project submarines are the main assault force of the Navy’s general-purpose fleet. Sevmash is currently building an additional four of these, and two more are in the works. These submarines incorporate precision armament, modern navigation, communication, and sonar systems. The country will continue to produce Yasen-M cruisers serially, and the recently launched ‘Perm’ became the first multipurpose submarine outfitted with the Zircon hypersonic missile system.
Additionally, it is imperative to optimize the capabilities of non-nuclear submarines, which are equipped with Kalibr cruise missile systems and are deployed on Russian vessels. The construction of Project 677 non-nuclear submarines is currently in progress. In 2024, the main sub, ‘Kronshtadt,’ was incorporated into the fleet. A minimum of nine of these non-nuclear submarines are scheduled for construction.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the induction of “Knyaz Pozharsky” emphasizes Russia’s ongoing strategic emphasis on the modernization and expansion of its submarine-based nuclear deterrent. This is exemplified by the ongoing construction of large-scale shipbuilding at Sevmash and other Russian shipyards, as well as the development of additional Borei-A and Yasen-M class submarines.