Overview

• An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck near the Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, generating tsunami warnings and evacuations from Japan to the US West Coast.
• Military analysts have begun reviewing satellite imagery to identify any damage to Yasen, Borei and Borei-A class submarines at the Rybachiy base in Avacha Bay.
• The Russian Defense Ministry reports no major injuries or structural failures at submarine facilities even as local footage shows collapsed buildings and flooded coastal infrastructure.
• Thick cloud cover and restricted access to the classified Rybachiy installation continue to limit external verification of post-quake conditions.
• Undetected harm to these strategic vessels could undermine Russia’s underwater nuclear deterrent and prompt further surveillance efforts.