K-141 (Russian Navy submarine)

K-141, also named Kursk, was a Russian nuclear-powered submarine launched in 1994. It was part of the Oscar-class, designed to carry long-range nuclear missiles for maritime defense. On August 12, 2000, during a routine naval exercise in the Barents Sea, the Kursk tragically sank after an explosion caused by a leak from one of its torpedoes. Despite rescue efforts, all 118 onboard perished. The incident highlighted issues with submarine safety and nuclear propulsion. The wreck remains on the ocean floor, and the disaster prompted reforms in Russian naval safety protocols.