You're right - military development is what's going to drive the bulk of future underwater exploration, one way or another. The costs involved practically mandate that.

Also, despite personal curiosity I'd never climb into a Russian built death trap. Their generally casual disregard for even basic safety measures is legendary. Lives are disposable. As you alluded to in your article, there's been a number of deaths that occurred in various Russian programs, some of which are pretty difficult to get specific info about. Their space program is a good example. While not exactly secret in the strictest sense, most people aren't aware (for example) that at least one Russian astronaut burned up in space, and another one may have drifted off into deep space. If it advances Russian interests and capabilities, people are disposable - more so, perhaps, than even most other governments.

Final note, the name Chernomor is a portmanteau in Russian meaning literally "black ocean."