In August 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel in connection with its assistance in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
The vessel was involved in the construction of the export main gas pipeline "North Stream-2", formally the vessel was entrusted with the security function for the pipe-layers "Fortuna" and "Akademik Cherskiy".
The members of the joint group were identified as belonging to some special units of the russian Navy: a group of four of the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research of the ministry of defense of the russian federation, or military unit No. 45707 (one of the most classified military units of the russian federation, which plans and carries out special underwater operations, the hydronauts of the unit are engaged in reconnaissance activities, install various equipment on the seabed, and also collect wreckage of vessels, planes and satellites to obtain information about the level of technological developments of possible adversaries, are engaged in planning and preliminary preparation of large-scale sabotage on transatlantic fiber-optic communication lines between Europe and North America); a group of seven people of the 313th Separate Special Forces Combating Submarine Subversive Forces of the Baltic Fleet of the russian Navy; a group of seven people of the 342nd Emergency and Rescue Squad of the Baltic Fleet of the russian Navy.
During the final stage of works on the completion of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline (from April 10 to August 30, 2021), servicemen of some special units of the russian Navy were seen in the area of their implementation. A combined special purpose group of 18 people was on board civilian vessels of the Maritime Rescue Service - the tug "Kapitan Beklemishev" and multi-functional emergency rescue vessels "Spasatel Karev" and "Bakhtemir".
The increased activity of the combined group was observed in the exclusive maritime economic zones of Denmark and Germany in the area of passage of the Baltica (connecting Poland, Sweden, Denmark) and "Denmark — Poland-2" (connecting Poland with the island of Bornholm) underwater OCs, in corridor 2-3 miles from the pipeline. In addition to the MSS-3000 on board "Bakhtemir", the group had its own remote-controlled underwater vehicle "Marlin-350", designed to perform various underwater technical works, including with cables, at depths of up to 350 m. The device is equipped with a grabber-type manipulator and is located in service with the Navy of the Armed Forces of the russian federation in accordance with the secret order of the Minister of Defense No. 574 dated 30.09.2015. The diving group also performed certain monitoring tasks related to recording the correctness of laying the pipeline on the seabed. At the same time, the transfer of special cargoes on board "Bakhtemir" from the boat "Bercut L-DC Arctica" and at night from the vessel "Yasnyy" was recorded.
Multi-functional emergency and rescue vessel of the MPSV12 project, designed for patrolling, emergency and rescue duty in shipping areas, offshore oil and gas industries, search and assistance for vessels in distress, extinguishing fuel burning on water, fires on floating and coastal objects facilities, liquidation of emergency spills of oil and oil products, towing of emergency vessels, floating objects and structures in ice and clear water, etc. The sailing area of the vessel is unlimited, it is possible to carry out international flights and sailing routes of the Northern Sea Route.