MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. Russia is engaged in the gradual development of its nuclear forces, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.
"We are gradually implementing the adopted… program for the development of nuclear forces," Putin said after being briefed on the successful test launch of the advanced Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile system.
The President recalled that "since 2025, the Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile system is on combat duty and it can be armed with nuclear warheads."
"Work on two systems equipped with small-sized nuclear power units is in the final stage. They are the unique Poseidon nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle and the unique Burevestnik unlimited-range cruise missile," the president emphasized.
In October 2025, during his talk with soldiers at a military hospital in Moscow, President Putin said that Russia had successfully tested the Poseidon nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle. The power of the Poseidon weapon far exceeds the power of the advanced Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, the head of state stressed at that time.
