According to Putin, "Poseidon" is a new unmanned underwater vehicle, and its testing is a significant achievement for Russia. He noted that not only was it possible to launch the vehicle using a launch engine from a submarine, but also to activate the nuclear power plant, which allowed the vehicle to operate for a certain period of time. The president described this as a "huge success."
According to Putin, the size of "Poseidon" is small, but its power significantly exceeds even that of the most modern intercontinental missile "Sarmat." He also added that in terms of speed and depth characteristics, this vehicle has no analogs in the world and is virtually impossible to intercept.
"Poseidon" can be used with both conventional and nuclear warheads. According to TASS, the vehicle is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead with a yield of up to two megatons and can reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. The Russian Navy plans to acquire up to 32 such vehicles, which will be deployed on four submarines.
In March 2018, Putin first mentioned the development of underwater drones in his address to the Federal Assembly, emphasizing their ability to move at great depths and at high speeds, surpassing modern submarines and torpedoes. The following year, the Ministry of Defense showed footage of the "Poseidon" vehicle's tests.
At the end of October 2025, the Kremlin's press service released a video in which Putin discusses the testing of the "Burevestnik" missile with military officials. The launch of this missile with a nuclear power plant took place on October 21. Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia Valery Gerasimov reported that the missile traveled 14,000 kilometers and was in the air for about 15 hours.
Putin's statements about the successful tests of "Burevestnik" prompted a reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump, who called them "inappropriate." He noted that the U.S. has a nuclear submarine that surpasses all others and that such a long-range launch is unnecessary. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative analytical center, from 2017 to 2019, Russia conducted at least 13 tests of the "Burevestnik" missile, of which only two were partially successful.
