Russia Says It Successfully Tested Nuclear-Powered Poseidon Underwater Drone

President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia successfully tested its nuclear-powered underwater torpedo, the Poseidon, saying the trial took place in the Arctic Ocean on October 28. According to the Russian leader, this is the second successful strategic weapons test by Moscow in as many days — following the earlier announcement about the unlimited-range Buryevstnik cruise missile on October 26.
 

Putin described the Poseidon as a sea-launched, nuclear-propelled autonomous weapon with destructive potential that surpasses even Russia’s largest intercontinental ballistic missiles. He said the test included not only the launch of the drone from a carrier submarine but also the activation of its nuclear unit, underlining the system’s operational capability in Russia’s assessment.
 

According to the figures cited by Russian officials, Poseidon is reported to weigh around 100 tonnes, measure about 20 metres in length and be capable of very high submerged speeds — claims that, if accurate, would mark it as an exceptionally large and fast autonomous underwater vehicle. Russian commentary has emphasised Poseidon’s theoretical ability to strike coastal targets by travelling long distances underwater, making port cities and coastal infrastructure potential targets.
Putin framed the tests as a reaffirmation of Russia’s refusal to bow to external pressure over the war in Ukraine, presenting the weapons as a deterrent and a demonstration of Moscow’s strategic independence. The tests drew immediate criticism abroad: opponents argue that new classes of nuclear-armed systems raise regional and global risks and divert attention from diplomatic solutions to ongoing conflicts.
 

Observers have noted that weapons described as having near-unlimited range and explosive yield — and capable of being deployed from the sea — pose complicated challenges for defence planners and arms control regimes. U.S. and Western officials have previously flagged concern about such developments and urged a focus on ending hostilities rather than showcasing new armaments. Former and current officials have also warned that deployment of novel nuclear-capable systems would require careful analysis under existing non-proliferation and strategic stability frameworks.

Russia’s announcement comes amid the broader context of continued conflict in Ukraine and heightened geopolitical tensions. Moscow’s claim of consecutive strategic-weapons tests is likely to shape military and diplomatic discourse in the weeks ahead, prompting questions about escalation risks and the future of arms-control dialogue.
 

NOTE: This article is based on official statements attributed to President Vladimir Putin and Russian sources. Independent verification of technical claims about the Poseidon system and the precise details of the tests is not provided here. For readers seeking the most current, independently corroborated information, consult official defence analyses and multiple international reporting outlets.