NATO intelligence officials believe Russia is developing underwater nuclear missile systems which could be concealed on the Arctic seabed, according to reports.
NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and Russia have maintained a tense and precarious relationship for decades. The 32-member alliance was established in 1949 to counter the threat of Soviet aggression.
The alliance now concentrates on safeguarding allied nations by guaranteeing that an assault on one member is deemed an assault on all. It has remained the foundation of Western security.
View 3 ImagesVladimir Putin took personal command of massive Russian nuclear war games on May 21 ordering multiple test launches(Image: Mod Russia/e2w)
EurAsia Daily reported that NATO intelligence agencies have been observing the Russian Northern Fleet and suspect that efforts are underway to position missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads on the seabed.
German media has reported that the initiative, codenamed “Scythians”, may have been operational for several years.
It is believed that the missiles would be stationed in the Arctic Ocean within Russian territorial waters. They could be positioned at the ocean floor in specially engineered mines or containers.
Reports have suggested that should Russia deploy these missiles, they could remain on the seabed for extended periods and be launched via remote control.
Missile launchers positioned on the seabed would prove extremely difficult to detect and neutralise during wartime.
The Daily Express previously reported that Vladimir Putin’s forces test-fired several nuclear-capable missiles in a chilling threat to the rest of the world.
View 3 ImagesPutin ordered a nuclear-capable Yars intercontinental ballistic missile to be launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome to hit a target 3,500 miles away at the Kura test range in Kamchatka(Image: Mod Russia/e2w)
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on Thursday, May 21, as part of nuclear forces exercises, test launches were carried out of the ‘Yars’ and ‘Sineva’ ICBMs, alongside hypersonic missiles from the ‘Zircon’ and ‘Kinzhal’ systems.
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Separately, the Belarusian military carried out a test launch of an ‘Iskander’ missile, according to Russian news agency Interfax.
This follows a heated exchange of threats with NATO state Lithuania amid growing concerns over a potential Putin military offensive in the Baltic region.
Alliance fighters were scrambled in Lithuania on Wednesday following reports of drone incursions from Russian ally Belarus, which is currently participating in the nuclear drills alongside Kremlin forces.