Russia has conducted a missile training exercise in the Atlantic Ocean en route to Havana Harbor in Cuba, which is close to the United States. This exercise involved naval escort ships and nuclear-powered submarines.
On the 11th, Reuters reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense conducted missile attack training using the nuclear submarine Kazan and the escort ship Gorshkov en route to Cuba.
The Russian training included computer simulations using the Gorshkov to repel air strikes and firing precision missiles at virtual targets more than 600km (approximately 373 miles) away. The Gorshkov is armed with the hypersonic cruise missile Zircon, which Russian President Vladimir Putin praised for its powerful capabilities. The Zircon can fly nine times faster than the speed of sound and disable existing missile defense systems from ranges over 1000km (approximately 621 miles). It can be deployed on cruisers, escort ships, and submarines and can be used to strike enemy fleets and ground targets. The Russian naval detachment that conducted the maritime training headed to Havana Harbor in Cuba, accompanied by two support vessels. Cuban authorities explained that this visit reflects the historical friendly relations between Russia and Cuba and poses no threat to the region, as no nuclear weapons are on board.
However, with tensions escalating over the war in Ukraine, global attention has been drawn to Russia’s move to bring a warship capable of carrying nuclear weapons to Cuba, just 180km (approximately 112 miles) away from the United States. A senior U.S. official stated that while the U.S. does not view the move as a threat, the U.S. Navy will closely monitor the exercise. They interpreted this training as an action by Russia to demonstrate that it still possesses global military capabilities.
Meanwhile, according to CNN, a Russian ship heading to Cuba was also captured on camera from a nearby cruise ship. The Russian naval vessels are expected to stay in Cuba from the 12th to the 17th.
Most Commented