Yes! they are not dead…
The Harpsichord-2P-PM (Клавесин-2Р-ПМ) UUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, AUV, in Russian parlance) is one of the largest and most advanced UUV programs in Russia. It will be carried by surface vessels or submarines and may become a standard feature of Russian Navy nuclear submarines, giving them an improved Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability.
It is closely associated with Arctic under-ice capabilities, but the family of UUVs has also been deployed in Pacific and Black Sea fleets, where it has been conducting tests since 2016. In the Arctic Shelf region related systems have been suggested as part of a perimeter defense system for planned sea-floor hydrocarbon mining operations.According to Igor Vilnit, the Director General of the Rubin Central Design Bureau speaking to Russian media in 2016, "Harpsichord" is a dual-use device which can be used for reconnaissance purposes in the interests of the Navy, or to conduct scientific research of the seabed at great depths.
On 1st March 2018 the Russian Ministry of Defense published computer generated images of a Harpsichord-2P-2M launching from the new Pr.09852 Special Mission host submarine Belgorod (http://vote.mil.ru/vote/oms.htm). The AUV is launched from a wet-hangar on the submarine's back which was originally used to house a towed communications buoy. The images were actually first used by Rubin design bureau, who designed both the Harpsichord and the Belgorod submarine, in 2016.The replacement of the communications buoy may be significant. If the buoy system is obselete and has been replaced with another communications system, the hangar is available for Harpsichord on all/most subarines which previously carried the buoy. These include the OSCAR-II SSGNs and AKULA SSNs.
The Harpsichord can carry an array of sonars including side-scanning, and are able to map the sea floor in great detail and locate items such as wreckage and sensor arrays.
http://www.hisutton.com/
Maybe it's not relevant but:
Russian Status-6 Intercontinental, nuclear armed, undersea autonomous torpedo Demystified
Since the US DoD released a Nuclear Posture review citing the ‘Status-6 AUV’ as having been tested, commentators are forced to accept that the Status-6 (NATO: KANYON) intercontinental, nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered, undersea autonomous torpedo is a military fact. Some observers had been watching the developments for some time however. This brief analysis details a selection of my original research into the subject. Some of it well known, some less so.The OSINT trail starts with the special test submarine B-90 Sarov. Originally laid as an improved KILO Class submarine, she was heavily modified over a protracted construction cycle to serve as a special test submarine. She was commissioned in 2008. A key feature is a very large hangar-like weapons bay in the bow which is much larger than would be needed if she was only intended to test regular sized torpedoes. In the past the Russians had grafted additional test torpedo tubes onto the bows of old diesel-electric submarines – Sarov is a completely different beast and only makes sense in the context of KANYON.
Initially B-90 Sarov was involved in testing regular torpedoes. The below photo, from 17th Oct. 2009 shows her being loaded with test torpedo in external tube, presumably in hangar. The weapon appears to be 533mm or 650mm. Geolocated to 64°34'41.69"N, 64°34'41.69"N in Severodvinsk on the White Sea where Sarov is based.
In 2010 a KANYON test round (likely size and displacement only) and related lifting/loading frame began to be visible in commercial satellite imagery of Severodvinsk
Since then the test KANYON round and related equipment has appeared in numerous satellite images and some photos (two better known examples posted here, cross-referenced with early satellite images). The test KANYON round is only 18-19 meters long, compared to the stated length of 24 meters revealed by Russian media in 2015.
On 26th Dec 2014 Russian media article stating that B-90 Sarov is helping to test a new generation of “robotic means for submarines” (http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/1673882)
9th Nov 2015, the now infamous leaking of the Status-6 strategic nuclear torpedo on Russian TV station