The vessel is operated by the Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research, nicknamed GUGI, a branch directly under General Staff of the Armed Forces. From the Oleniya base, the Directorate operates a fleet of nine nuclear-powered submarines and a few surface vessels that frequently sails out on special missions. Little is known about the nature of those voyages, except reports of significantly increased activity along subsea cables which carry global electronic communication.
The “Losharik” has one reactor. Little is known about the state of the vessel and reactor following yesteday’s accident.
It is believed that the vessel can be carried by the «Podmoskvye», a rebuilt Delta-IV class submarine. The “Losharik” can reportedly submerge to 6,000 meter depths and does not carry weapons.
The “Losharik” is believed to be able to bring - or remove - other small installations and devices for military purposes to be placed on the sea floor. In the Arctic, or at other locations important for the Russian navy. Such devices can be noice-makers to distract foreign submarines when Russian submarines sail out from the Kola Peninsula to the North Atlantic. Other listening devices can detect sounds made by the propellers of enemy ships. The submarine can launch and recover unmanned subsea vehicles.
Sounds like the NR1 Spy Sub
Thanks for posting the English article summarizing the sad incident.