On the eve of the first anniversary of his intervention in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has decided to maintain the nuclear tension that began last Tuesday when he announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the latest strategic arms disarmament treaty between Russia and the United States. This Thursday he announced the upcoming entry into operation of the new Sarmat intercontinental missiles.
During a video message released by the Kremlin to congratulate the Russians on Defender of the Fatherland Day, which is commemorated on February 23, the Russian president said that this year he will continue to pay special attention to the nuclear capabilities of the forces russian navies.
In addition to the placement of the Sarmat, which the West has called Satan II, he assured that the military industry "will continue the serial production of Kinzhal airborne hypersonic missile systems." In addition, "we will begin the massive supply of Tsirkon naval-site hypersonic missiles."
The Sarmat is a fifth-generation Russian strategic missile system. Its missiles are capable of launching multiple nuclear warheads.
"As we have done so far, we will pay more attention to strengthening the nuclear triad," Putin said, referring to nuclear missiles that can be fired from land, sea and air. "This year the first launchers of Sarmat missile systems, with a new heavy missile, enter combat service," the Kremlin chief announced.
Last Tuesday, during his speech before Parliament, Putin stated that Russia was suspending its participation (although it was not withdrawing) from the Start III or New Start nuclear disarmament treaty, in what can be interpreted as a nuclear pulse towards the West, but above all towards the United States, in the midst of the conflict in Ukraine. During his speech, he accused Western countries of turning a local conflict into a global war by arming Ukraine in order to destroy Russia "once and for all."
The announcement of the arrival of new intercontinental missiles comes a day before the first anniversary of the Ukraine conflict. On February 24, 2022, Putin ordered the Russian armed forces to enter the neighboring country.
In this context, for the Kremlin Defender of the Fatherland Day makes much more sense.
"This popular festival symbolizes the heroic history of our army and our fleet, the indestructible relationship of all generations of defenders of the homeland," he said in the recorded message.
The Russian leader said that this day "incarnates our deep gratitude to the sons and daughters faithful to the homeland, to all those who selflessly fought against the enemy for their homeland, for their people, overcame all tests with dignity and brought victory." after destroying the enemy invasions".
There was no lack of reference to the current conflict. "Now our fighters heroically fight against neo-Nazism that took root in Ukraine, defend our people in our heroic territories, fight with courage and heroism," Putin said.
The Russian president also announced the delivery to the Russian Fleet of the "Emperor Alexander III" missile submarine, belonging to the Borei-A project. With this "the proportion of modern weapons and equipment in naval strategic nuclear forces will reach one hundred percent," Putin said. And he added that "in the next few years the fleet will receive three more submarines of this type."
