The came alongside at 04:30 to transfer a salvage pump as the corvette was still taking on water. At 05:01, Butcher ordered all remaining hands aboard the Soviet ship because "Denbigh Castle" was slowly sinking by the bow, only the officers remaining aboard. "Buresvestnik"s captain, not wanting the corvette to founder in the channel, took over the tow at 06:15, by which time her stern was nearly out of the water. "Denbigh Castle" was beached at 07:30 at Bolshaya Volokovaya Bay near Vaenga; "Buresvestnik" then pushed her stern around. The ship began to slowly list with the ebbing tide and the officers abandoned her at 09:05; five minutes later she capsized and slid into deeper water. The intense cold made later efforts to retrieve or destroy secret documents and equipment still aboard extremely difficult, but the diving team from the light cruiser did manage to demolish the radar office. In recognition of her service, "Denbigh Castle" was awarded the battle honour Arctic 1945.