Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated the launch of the Poseidon nuclear‑powered autonomous underwater drone in a Moscow hospital, claiming it is unmatched in speed, depth, and payload capability.
Poseidon: Russia’s New Nuclear‑Powered Submarine Drone
Putin highlighted the drone’s new nuclear propulsion system, asserting it can move at high speed at great depths while carrying nuclear payloads. He said Poseidon has no equal worldwide and that no counter‑measures exist to intercept it.
Russia’s Expanded Nuclear Weapon Tests
Earlier this week Moscow continued testing missiles, including the Sarmat ICBM, with demonstrations of nuclear‑capable projectiles from land, sea, and air platforms.
General Valery Gerasimov reported a missile covering 14,000 km and remaining airborne for about 15 hours before striking its target, a feat presented by Putin as part of the nuclear triad exercise.
International Reactions and Russian‑American Tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Russia’s new weapon tests, urging a focus on ending the bloodshed in Ukraine. Putin replied publicly that he would continue testing Poseidon.
Context: Russian Strategic Posturing Toward Ukraine
Russia’s recent tests are amid escalating pressure on Ukraine and Western countries, following Kyiv’s appeal to the United States for Tomahawk missiles and threats of launching domestically designed rockets toward Russia.