WAR IN UKRAINE: Russia Says It Has Deployed Nuclear Submarines To The Pacific Ocean
Russia has said that it has deployed nuclear submarines to the Pacific Ocean as part of a surprise readiness check ordered by Vladimir Putin. The footage purports to show at least one of the submarines departing from a port in Kamchatka before at least half a dozen of the submersibles are shown at sea with the coast in the background. The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday, 18th April, along with a statement claiming: "Strategic and multi-purpose nuclear submarines deployed in the Pacific Ocean as part of a sudden check of the combat readiness of the Pacific Fleet forces." The Russian MoD added: "In the course of a surprise check of the combat readiness of the forces of the Pacific Fleet (Pacific Fleet), which is carried out by decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, strategic nuclear missile submarines and multipurpose nuclear submarines of the Submarine Forces of the Pacific Fleet are deployed at the indicated positions in the Pacific Ocean. "The exit of the nuclear-powered ships from the base point in Kamchatka was provided by sea minesweepers of the formation of the ships of the protection of the water area of the Troops and forces in the North-East of Russia, which carried out the piloting of the nuclear submarine behind the trawls. "The cover for the withdrawal of nuclear submarines was masked by the installation of smoke screens, and the safety of their transition was ensured by military personnel of the anti-sabotage forces and assets on high-speed boats." We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 419th day of the full-scale war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 18th April 2023, Russia had lost about 183,130 personnel, 3,661 tanks, 7,098 armoured combat vehicles, 2,810 artillery units, 538 multiple launch rocket systems, 285 air defence systems, 308 warplanes, 293 helicopters, 2,353 drones, 911 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,676 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 330 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. The British and German air forces have intercepted two Russian fighter jets and a spy plane that were flying close to NATO airspace. The UK’s Royal Air Force scrambled Eurofighter typhoons and, along with German aircraft, they intercepted the Russian jets, which were flying over the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. The United Kingdom has condemned the sentencing of Russian political activist and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who holds both Russian and British citizenship, to 25 years in prison for opposing the war in Ukraine. The US Ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, has made her first visit to the jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested two weeks ago and was charged with spying by the Russian authorities. The Pentagon has said that it expects findings in 45 days from a review into how the US military handles classified information following a huge leak of sensitive data and the arrest of a 21-year-old National Guard airman. Slovakia has said that it will temporarily halt imports of grain from Ukraine to protect its farmers, joining Poland and Hungary. Ukraine and Poland have begun talks to try to reach an agreement on imports. The Slovak Ministry of Defence has said that Slovakia has supplied Kyiv with all 13 of the MiG-29 fighter jets it had pledged to Ukraine.
