During exercises in the Chukchi Sea, close to the US state of Alaska, the Omsk and Novosibirsk, two nuclear-powered submarines, fired anti-ship cruise missiles that struck a target 400 kilometres away.
As part of military drills meant to gauge Moscow’s readiness for a potential battle in the nation’s northern waters, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on September 16 that its nuclear-powered submarines fired cruise missiles in the Arctic on September 15.
Omsk and Novosibirsk, two nuclear submarines, fired cruise missiles aimed at ships that were 400 kilometres away, striking their targets.
The Chukchi Sea, the eastern portion of the Arctic Ocean dividing Russia from the US state of Alaska, is the location of the Umka-2022 exercise.
From ships on the Northern Variable Route, a maritime waterway that Russia views as an alternative to the route linking Europe and Asia, missiles can be seen being launched in a video published by the Russian Defense Ministry.
Russia has been bolstering its military capabilities in the area for years, which has alarmed the West. Russia views the vast Arctic region as strategically important.
The Umka-2022 exercises, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, were designed to gauge “Russia’s capability and readiness to protect the Russian Arctic by armed means.”
A “strategic issue” for NATO, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, is Russia’s military buildup in the Arctic.
