The Kursk submarine disaster in 2000 killed 118 Russian sailors after explosions in the Barents Sea.
The nuclear-powered Oscar II-class submarine K-141 Kursk sank on 12 August 2000 during a Russian naval exercise. Two explosions occurred aboard the submarine, with the first generally attributed to a malfunction involving a 65-76A practice torpedo and the second to the detonation of other stored weapons.
Kursk settled on the seabed in relatively shallow water. Some crew members survived the initial explosions, but rescue efforts failed before they could be reached. All 118 people aboard ultimately died, making the disaster one of the deadliest accidents in the history of the Russian Navy.
The wreck was raised in 2001 during a major salvage operation. Investigations and later reporting examined torpedo safety, emergency response and the Russian government’s handling of information about the accident.