Russia has announced a successful test of its Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone, a weapon which Putin claims has no equivalent in the world and could unleash a devastating radioactive tsunami along enemy coastlines.
Putin Boasts of “Unstoppable” Weapon
Speaking on Wednesday during a meeting with wounded soldiers in Moscow, Putin confirmed that Russia had not only launched the Poseidon from a carrier submarine but had also activated its onboard nuclear propulsion system.
“For the first time, we managed not only to launch it from a submarine but also to power up the nuclear unit,” Putin said. “There is nothing like this anywhere else and it cannot be intercepted.”
Military analysts say the Poseidon is a blend of torpedo and autonomous drone which is designed to travel thousands of kilometers underwater before detonating near coastal cities, causing massive radioactive flooding.
Capabilities and Strategic Purpose
The Poseidon, known to NATO as “Kanyon,” reportedly measures 20 meters in length, weighs around 100 tonnes, and can travel at speeds approaching 185 km/h. With a range of up to 10,000 km, it could strike across oceans, bypassing traditional missile defense systems.
Russian media claims the weapon could carry a warhead equivalent to two megatons, while being powered by a small liquid-metal-cooled nuclear reactor, giving it near-unlimited endurance underwater. Putin asserted that its destructive capacity surpasses even Russia’s most powerful intercontinental missile, the Sarmat (known in NATO as “Satan II”).
A Message to the West
The Poseidon test comes just days after Russia launched its Burevestnik nuclear cruise missile and conducted strategic nuclear drills, moves widely viewed as a show of defiance toward the United States.
With President Donald Trump taking a tougher stance on Moscow, the Kremlin appears eager to demonstrate that Russia remains a dominant nuclear power. “Russia will never bow to Western pressure,” Putin said, signaling his resolve amid tensions over Ukraine.
Renewed Fears of a Nuclear Arms Race
Experts warn that Poseidon’s unique design blurs the line between strategic deterrence and doomsday weaponry. It represents a new phase in the global nuclear arms race, with the U.S., Russia, and China all developing next-generation nuclear systems.
Arms control advocates say the weapon undermines decades of efforts to regulate nuclear escalation. “Poseidon is designed for maximum destruction not deterrence,” said one Western defense analyst. “It’s a weapon built to terrorize coastal populations, not just militaries.”
