Russia Hides Nuclear Fleet at Rybachy Base Near Kamchatka Earthquake Epicenter Threatened by Tsunami

TIMEMOMENTS.COM- A powerful earthquake triggering a tsunami has been reported in Russian waters.

Timemoments citing Vedomosti in the July 30, 2025 edition that a powerful earthquake occurred in Kamchatka on the night of July 30, Russian time.

"According to various estimates, its magnitude reached 8.7.

This was reported on the Kamchatka branch's Telegram channel of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Integrated Geophysical Service.

At 02:33 Moscow time, the Kamchatka branch of the Federal Research Center for Geophysical Surveys of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported that the earthquake occurred 149 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 17 km.

The initial magnitude was 7.1.

The Kamchatka branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Integrated Geophysical Service described this earthquake as the strongest in the Kamchatka seismic focus zone since 1952.

Its magnitude, according to various estimates, reached 8.7.

According to initial estimates, the earthquake's intensity in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was at least 6 points, stronger than that recorded on July 20, but weaker than what could be expected for such an event.

The geophysical service stated that this was due to the peculiarities of the focal process," explained Vedomosti.

A tsunami warning has reportedly been issued.

"A strong tsunami was detected along the Kamchatka coast near Severo-Kurilsk. Additionally, strong aftershocks are developing, which are being felt in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

According to the service, significant aftershocks will continue for at least a month.

It is emphasized that strong aftershocks with a magnitude of up to 7.5 should be anticipated, capable of causing oscillations with an intensity of 5-6 points in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, as well as dangerous tsunamis," wrote the Russian media.

According to the regional department of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, most buildings in Kamchatka survived the earthquake, but the facade of one kindergarten under renovation collapsed.

There were no fatalities or injuries.

The department also warned that due to the earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, tsunami waves up to 32 cm high could approach the Aleut City District, up to 20 cm high could approach the Ust-Kamchatsky City District, and up to 6 cm high could approach the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Urban District.

"Experts do not recommend visiting the coast of Avacha Bay in the near future, especially Khalaktyrsky Beach, Anglichanka Bay, Prilivnoye Lake, and others.

Currently, all operational services of the KB FRC EGS RAS are in a state of emergency," explained Vedomosti.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian media, TSN edition of July 30, 2025, noted that Avacha Bay, which Russia fears is threatened by a tsunami, is the location of the Rybachy submarine base—the main facility of the Russian Pacific Fleet for nuclear submarines.

Timemoments.com cited another Ukrainian media outlet, 24tv on July 30, 2025, reporting that the Rybachy base is the main facility of the Russian Pacific Fleet.

According to published information, Russian submarines armed with nuclear weapons and modern missiles are based there.

"Additionally, this base even has a strategic missile carrier with intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The base also has underground bunkers for storing nuclear warheads.

According to open sources, nuclear submarines have been stationed there since the mid-1960s.

By the late 1980s, Rybachy had become the largest base in Russia, with up to 15 Soviet strategic submarines (SSBNs) stationed there.

It is known that the submarine base is located at the southern tip of the Krasheninnikov Peninsula, across Krasheninnikov Bay from Vilyuchinsk, near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, where the earthquake was felt," the Ukrainian media reported.

The July 30, 2025 edition of Glavred reported that Russia was storing nuclear submarines such as the K-44 Ryazan, which carries 16 R-29R ballistic missiles, the K-550 Alexander Nevsky, as well as nuclear submarines with enhanced stealth systems and UGST Fizik-2 torpedoes at the Rybachy base.

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