President Putin has said Russia will pay increased attention to boosting its nuclear forces, as the country marks one year since its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s plan is to deploy intercontinental ballistic missiles, roll out hypersonic missiles and add new nuclear submarines.
Putin has given the signal he is ready to rip up the architecture of nuclear arms control unless the West backs off in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin attends a concert dedicated to Russian service members involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine
SPUTNIK
On Tuesday, Putin announced new strategic systems had been put on combat duty, warning that Moscow could resume nuclear tests.
Speaking at the “Defender of the Fatherland” event in the capital, Putin said: "As before, we will pay increased attention to strengthening the nuclear triad.”
The Russian president said the Sarmot silo-based intercontinental ballistic missiles would be deployed this year.
First announced in 2018, the missiles – nicknamed Satan 2 – were supposed to have been deployed last year.
The United States believe Russia carried out a test of the missile before U.S. President Joe Biden visited Ukraine earlier this week, but that test failed.
The Russian defence ministry has not commented on that suggestion.
In addition to the ballistic missiles, Putin said Russia would continue mass production of the air-based hypersonic Kinzhal systems, as well as sea-based Zircon hypersonic missiles.
He said: "With the adoption of the Borei-A nuclear-powered submarine project 'Emperor Alexander III' into the navy, the share of modern weapons and equipment in the naval strategic nuclear forces will reach one hundred percent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at a memorial to the Hero Cities of the Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany, by the Kremlin Wall on the Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow
Reuters
"In the coming years, three more cruisers of this project will replenish the fleet's combat strength."
Putin also said Russia would develop all parts of it’s conventional armed forces, improve training, add advanced equipment, bolster the arms industry and promote soldiers who had proven themselves in the battle with Ukraine.
"A modern, efficient army and navy are a guarantee of the country's security and sovereignty, a guarantee of its stable development and its future," Putin said.
"Therefore, we will continue to pay priority attention to strengthening our defence capability."