Actually I just went back looking at older, pre-sunk pics of the flagship. I...didn't see a lot of what I'd call traditional lifeboats. I mean I see this one:
closer to the back where I think there's a crane...but nothing else. I assume the remaining lifeboats are inflatable, but it also means when I said earlier "I don't see any lifeboats" it proves nothing, because I wouldn't see them whether they were there or not.
If anyone can tell one way or the other, let me know.
EDIT: And I'm guessing "put on life jacket and jump into ocean" wasn't in any Russian's to-do list, either.
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It would fit the "bulkheads were not sealed" if half the crew were burned to death by the fire the bulkheads were supposed to contain.