Soldiers are seen on a Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov ahead of scheduled naval exercises with South African and Chinese navies in Richards Bay, South Africa, February 21, 2023. REUTERS/Rogan Ward/File Photo
A Russian naval frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine have conducted missile drills in the Atlantic Ocean while on their way to Cuba, according to a statement from the Russian defense ministry on Tuesday. The exercises involved the submarine Kazan and the warship Admiral Gorshkov, which fired high-precision missiles at simulated enemy targets from a distance of over 600 km (370 miles). Additionally, the Admiral Gorshkov engaged in training exercises to repel an air attack.
These vessels are part of a four-ship Russian naval group scheduled to arrive in Cuba on Wednesday. Cuban authorities stated last week that such visits are routine for naval units from friendly nations and emphasized that the ships do not carry nuclear weapons and pose no threat to the region.
Despite this, the United States will be closely monitoring the situation, particularly given the heightened tensions with Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. A U.S. official indicated that while the U.S. does not perceive the drills as a direct threat, the U.S. Navy will keep a watchful eye on the exercises. “This is about Russia demonstrating its continued capability for global power projection,” the official commented.
The Admiral Gorshkov has previously been employed by Russia to test and deploy Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles and has participated in joint exercises with the Chinese and South African navies in 2023.
COMMENTS