"Stronger Than the Sarmat Capable of Striking the U.S., Impossible to Intercept"
Putin Flaunts Nuclear Power in Response to U.S. Sanctions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the successful test of the "Poseidon" underwater drone, which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and is equipped with a nuclear propulsion system. On October 30, Yonhap News Agency reported that President Putin, while meeting with soldiers injured during the "special military operation" in Ukraine, stated, "Yesterday, we tested another advanced system, the Poseidon underwater drone, using a nuclear-powered facility."
On this day, President Putin emphasized, "For the first time, we not only launched Poseidon from a carrier submarine using a booster motor, but we were also able to operate the nuclear propulsion system that powers the drone for a certain period of time," calling it a "tremendous success." He added, "Moreover, this drone has no equivalent in the world in terms of speed and operational depth, and it is unlikely that any will appear in the near future," asserting, "There is no way to intercept it." President Putin explained that the power of Poseidon surpasses that of the next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) "Sarmat," which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
The Sarmat, referred to as "Satan 2" by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), can carry 10 to 15 nuclear warheads at once and has a range of up to 18,000 kilometers, making it capable of striking the U.S. mainland, including cities such as New York and Washington. President Putin is showcasing Russia's nuclear capabilities amid the temporary suspension of the summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, demands for progress in Ukraine peace negotiations, and sanctions imposed on Russia. Spokesperson Peskov emphasized that regarding whether the United States was notified of this test, "All tests of such advanced weapons are conducted in strict compliance with international regulations, bilateral agreements, and notification requirements."
President Putin's disclosure of the next-generation nuclear weapon test comes just three days after he announced the completion of a decisive test of the new nuclear-powered intercontinental cruise missile "Burevestnik" on October 26. President Putin is showcasing Russia's nuclear capabilities amid the temporary suspension of the summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, demands for progress in Ukraine peace negotiations, and sanctions imposed on Russia. Russia, facing the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) in February next year, has proposed to the United States to unilaterally extend the treaty for one year.
President Putin is showcasing nuclear power amid the temporary suspension of the summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, demands for progress in Ukraine peace negotiations, and sanctions imposed on Russia. Photo by TASS Yonhap News
Regarding Burevestnik, President Putin said, "It is a state-of-the-art missile with unlimited range and a nuclear propulsion system," adding, "It has undeniable advantages, and we can take pride in this achievement." He explained that, unlike traditional reactors that require hours, days, or even weeks to start up, the reactor installed in Burevestnik can be activated within minutes or even seconds, and while it can generate power similar to that of a nuclear submarine reactor, its size is a thousand times smaller.
He went on to say that this technology will be used in the national economy, Arctic energy supply, lunar programs, and that some of it is already being applied in space programs. President Putin also mentioned that he discussed allowing journalists to enter the encircled Kupiansk and Krasnoarmeisk regions to witness firsthand what is happening on the ground, stating, "Through this, the Ukrainian leadership will be made to decide the fate of their people and soldiers."
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