The media has focused its attention on submarines following the tragic sinking of the nuclear submarine Kursk. The other day, rumors began circulating that one of the submarines involved in the exercise in the Barents Sea in mid-April had run into some sort of emergency.

According to the rumors, the incident occurred during the course of the exercise commanded by Admiral Vyacheslav Popov, Northern Fleet Commander. The assumption that something must have happened is supported by the fact that aircraft of the naval aviation took off and rescue ships sailed out.

The command denounces all rumors. Captain 1st Class Igor Dygalo says: "Everything is possible. An emergency may occur when the submarine is patrolling its station and during exercises. The only difference is that rescue becomes very problematic when something happens on station. If something did happen during the exercise and the submarine was towed to the docks, there is nothing to worry about. After all, that is what exercises are for in the first place.