Vladimir Putin’s newest nuclear stealth submarine secretly begins trials at sea
Russia's newest ultra-silent nuclear submarine, known as the Arkhangelsk, has begun trials at sea.
The stealth vessel - which will be equipped with deadly 'unstoppable’ 6,670mph nuclear missiles - is scheduled to go into service this year. Sources say that the Arkhangelsk sailed for the first time from the closed city of Severodvinsk on the White Sea, where it was constructed. There was no official confirmation of the sea trials, but industry sources told state news agency TASS that they began this week.
The submarine is the latest Yasen-M or Project 885M vessel as Vladimir Putin massively boosts his underwater strike capability. It will be capable of firing Tsirkon - or Zircon - nuclear missiles with a 620 mile range. The submarines are also armed with Kalibr and Onyx cruise missiles.
It has superior stealth capabilities, advanced sonar systems, and updated combat systems compared with previous Russian submarines. An earlier submarine in the Yasen-M series - Kazan - sailed this week to Cuba in a show of strength designed to be noticed in the US. The vessels are known for their stealth capabilities as well as their strike potential. They are seen as hard to track for Western navies. The sea trials will be followed by state trials before the Arkhangelsk joins Putin’s navy later this year.
Russia's newest Project 885M Arkhangelsk nuclear-powered submarine
It comes as US Vice President Kamala Harris met with President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss its term for ending the war with Russia following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion. Harris announced $1.5 billion in American assistance as she arrived in Switzerland for talks.
The cash, which comes through the State Department and the US Agency for International Development includes money for energy assistance, repairing damaged energy infrastructure, helping refugees and strengthening civilian security in the wake of Putin’s aggression. War is not our choice. It’s Putin’s choice,” Zelenskyy said alongside Harris before their private meeting. “And with this summit today, we will do everything we can to start moving toward real peace.”
Russia's newest Project 885M Arkhangelsk nuclear-powered submarine
Harris responded: “I am here today to stand with Ukraine and the leaders from around the world in support of a just and lasting peace.” She added that “as we look forward to that peace and work toward that, the United States is committed to helping Ukraine rebuild.”
On the frontline, Ukraine is losing ground along the snaking front line and will likely continue to do so through the summer, when the drier ground and longer days will only aid their push.
Russia's newest Project 885M Arkhangelsk nuclear-powered submarine
Kyiv has turned to a bend-but-don't-break strategy to buy time until it can get more Western weapons and ammunition to the front. By ceding some territory, Ukraine has been able to fight from better defended positions, according to interviews with senior Ukrainian military leaders, soldiers and officers in the field, and analysts.
A huge American aid package signed off by President Biden is yet to make its way fully to the Ukrainian front lines.