Hans Kristensen published his annual overview of Russia's submarine patrol rate. According to the data that he obtained from U.S. naval intelligence, Russian ballistic missile submarines "conducted ten patrols in 2008, compared with three in 2007 and five in 2006."

As I understand from various discussions, Russian ballistic missile submarines probably go to sea somewhat more often, but most of the time they don't go very far from a port. The U.S. naval intelligence most likely does not count short trips as "patrols".