Overview
- Vladimir Putin said the Poseidon autonomous underwater vehicle was tested Tuesday using its nuclear power unit for the first time, calling it a huge success and asserting it cannot be intercepted.
- Putin claimed Poseidon’s warhead power surpasses Russia’s Sarmat intercontinental missile, while offering no details on the test location or independent verification.
- Days earlier, Gen. Valery Gerasimov reported a Burevestnik nuclear‑powered cruise missile flight of about 15 hours covering roughly 14,000 kilometers and performing maneuvers intended to evade air and missile defenses.
- Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store described the Burevestnik announcement as a worrying sign and emphasized monitoring in the High North, as Finland’s Petteri Orpo said his country is prepared.
- Analysts continue to question the operational value and safety of these systems, and The Wall Street Journal, as cited by TASS, reported that Burevestnik could challenge the proposed U.S. Golden Dome missile defense and factor into future arms‑control talks.