MOSCOW, August 14 (RIA Novosti) - An official...

The K-496 Borisoglebsk, a Delta III class ballistic missile nuclear submarine, was decommissioned in December 2008 after over 30 years service. The operational lifetime of these submarines is estimated to be 20-25 years.

"The submarine"s crew, Zvezdochka and Sevmash workers, Northern Fleet"s active-duty personnel and veterans attended the farewell ceremony on August 14," the shipyard said in a statement.

The Borisoglebsk is known for its March 1993 collision with the Graling U.S. nuclear submarine, which had been tracking the Russian sub at the distance of 11-13 kilometers. The K-496 was subsequently sent for repairs to the Zvezdochka shipyard.

The Delta class submarines have formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since their introduction in 1973. They carry nuclear ballistic missiles of the R-29 Vysota family.

Russia has signed cooperation agreements on the disposal of decommissioned nuclear submarines with the United

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