Russian Beluga Whale Pens for Special Mission Submarine Base

Open ocean Beluga whale pens are located at the bay entrance of Olenya Guba which is the main submarine operating base for the 29th Separate Brigade of submarines of the Northern Fleet. This unit operates a range of special mission submarines (read ‘spy submarines’) for GUGI (Main Directorate Deep-Sea Research). Other GUGI assets based at this location include the enigmatic and controversial Yantar, a hydrographic research ship. Satellite images have shown times when whale pens are located adjacent to ships and submarines docked at the base, indicating transport of the whales is occurring.