Vladimir Putin has issued a chilling new nuclear warning to the West, claiming that his high-speed Poseidon underwater drone, powered by an atomic reactor, is nearing operational readiness. Russian propagandists have boasted that the weapon could trigger radioactive tidal waves capable of submerging large parts of Britain.
The Russian president made the remarks from a command bunker at the Admiralty in St Petersburg, after being forced to cancel the traditional Navy Day parade due to fears of Ukrainian drone strikes or an assassination attempt. He stressed the importance of the Navy within Russia's nuclear triad, stating that a submarine fleet equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles is vital for deterring adversaries and inflicting unacceptable damage in the event of direct aggression.
Putin reiterated his narrative that Russia did not start the war in Ukraine but was responding to hostilities unleashed by the Kyiv regime with Western support. He vowed that the conflict "will undoubtedly end sooner or later" with a Russian victory, insisting that "the enemy will be defeated." The internet in St Petersburg was switched off during his appearance amid security concerns.
Despite his defiant rhetoric, Putin faces significant setbacks. Over 200 Russian vessels, mostly tankers and cargo ships from the shadow fleet, have been destroyed by Ukraine in the Black and Azov Seas this month. He acknowledged the issue, ordering his fleet commanders to act decisively but within international maritime law to counter ship seizures. Meanwhile, naval chief Alexander Moiseev announced that the new nuclear submarine cruiser Perm, armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles, will enter service this year as part of a fleet renewal programme.
As Putin spoke, reports emerged of a Russian strike on a supermarket in Chernihiv, killing two people, including a ten-year-old child, and wounding 20 others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as a deliberate act of terror with no military justification. Analysts suggest that support for Putin is waning as Ukraine's strikes penetrate deeper into Russian territory.
