Russia Floats Out Sixth Yasen-M-class Nuclear Submarine Ulyanovsk

By: Tayfun Ozberk

The launch ceremony of the 6th Yasen-M submarine Ulyanovsk (Credit: Sevmash Shipyard)

On July 28, 2026, Russia’s Sevmash shipyard floated out the nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Ulyanovsk, marking the completion of the vessel’s hull-construction phase and moving it into the final stages of fitting out and testing.

The ceremony took place at Sevmash in Severodvinsk on 28 July, according to a shipyard statement. Ulyanovsk is a Project 885M, or Yasen-M-class, multipurpose nuclear-powered submarine. The boat was moved from its construction hall into the shipyard’s waters, where work will continue alongside the quay.

The Russian Navy’s Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev, said the submarine is intended to join the Northern Fleet following completion of trials. Sevmash Director General Mikhail Budnichenko stated that the boat will undergo mooring trials, sea trials, and state acceptance trials before delivery, which the yard currently plans for December 2027.

The launch ceremony was attended by senior Russian government, navy, and industry officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev and representatives of the Malakhit Design Bureau, the submarine’s designer.

Yasen-M Programme Background

Ulyanovsk is part of Russia’s continuing Yasen/Yasen-M submarine construction programme. The original Project 885 lead boat, Severodvinsk, entered service with the Northern Fleet in 2014. It was followed by the improved Project 885M design, beginning with Kazan. Four Yasen-M boats — Kazan, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Arkhangelsk — are reported by Sevmash to be in naval service alongside Severodvinsk.

Launching ceremony of the Ulyanovsk submarine of Yasen-M class

Launching ceremony of the Ulyanovsk submarine of Yasen-M class

Several more boats remain under construction at Sevmash. The shipyard described Ulyanovsk as the sixth submarine in the modernised project series to complete its slipway construction phase. In June, Sevmash also laid down Murmansk, which it identified as the ninth Yasen-M submarine in the wider series.

Design and Capabilities

The Yasen-M design is intended to become a principal Russian Navy multipurpose nuclear-powered submarine type, taking on missions previously carried out by several older classes. Its core tasks include:

• Anti-submarine warfare
• Anti-surface warfare
• Land-attack strike missions
• Intelligence collection

The boats feature heavyweight torpedo tubes with vertical launch systems capable of carrying Russian cruise missiles. These are commonly associated with the Kalibr family for land-attack and anti-ship missions, as well as P-800 Oniks anti-ship missiles. Russian officials have also publicly linked the class with the Tsirkon hypersonic missile programme, although specific weapon fit and operational loadouts are not normally disclosed.

The submarines are nuclear-powered, giving them the endurance to operate for extended periods without the range limitations of conventionally powered boats. The shipyard claims that their design incorporates quieter propulsion, updated sonar and combat-management systems, and a hull arrangement intended to reduce acoustic signature compared with earlier Russian attack submarines.

Outlook

While Ulyanovsk has now entered the water, the most demanding portion of its programme is still ahead. Outfitting, harbour acceptance work, and sea trials will determine whether Sevmash can meet its stated delivery schedule. Once commissioned, the boat is expected to strengthen the Northern Fleet’s long-range undersea strike and anti-submarine capability in the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches.

The float-out marks another step in the Yasen-M construction programme at Sevmash, where several submarines of the class remain at different stages of construction. The shipyard laid down Murmansk, described as the ninth Yasen-M boat in the series, in June 2026.

Tags: Project 885M, Russian Navy, Yasen-M-class

About the Author

Tayfun Ozberk is a former naval officer who is expert in Above Water Warfare, especially in Littoral Waters. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science. After serving the Turkish Navy for 16 years, he began writing articles for several media outlets. Tayfun also offers analysis services on global naval strategies. He is based in Mersin, Turkey.

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