The secret project is reportedly called "Skif" and may have been in development for several years. Western intelligence officials believe the missiles could be intended for the Arctic Ocean and pointed to Severodvinsk on the White Sea coast as a likely staging area. Severodvinsk is the home port of the ship Zvezdochka, which is about 96 meters (315 feet) long and 18 meters (59 feet) wide; officials say that vessel could be used for the Skif project.
According to the report, the missiles, believed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads, could be placed at depths of several hundred meters in special shafts or containers, where they could remain for long periods and be launched remotely if needed.
In addition to Zvezdochka, the specialized submarine Sarov may be involved in the project, Tagesschau said.
Tagesschau also quoted former Russian Aerospace Forces
commander Viktor Bondarev, who in 2017 said, “Skif missiles buried on the
seafloor are part of the arsenal of the Russian armed forces.”