Vladimir Putin just detailed the new Russian doctrine regarding the naval fleet this Sunday, July 31st. A real communication operation aimed at Westerners.
Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday that the Russian Navy would receive Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles in the coming months, adding without mentioning Ukraine that their area of operations would depend on Russian interests.
Russia says it is threatened
At a Navy Day parade in Saint Petersburg, the Russian president said he had signed a new naval doctrine, a 55-page document targeting the United States as Russia’s arch-rival. The new doctrine reaffirms the desire to make Russia a “great naval power” on all the world’s seas and defines as the main threats “the strategic policy of the United States aimed at dominating the oceans” and the expansion of the alliance towards the Atlantic Russian borders.
Without specifically citing Ukraine, which Russian forces invaded last February, the text envisages a “global strengthening of Russia’s geopolitical position” in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. The Arctic Ocean, which Washington accuses Moscow of wanting to militarize, is also mentioned as a particularly important area. Russia has 37,650 kilometers of coastline, from the shores of the Sea of Japan to those of the White Sea, Black Sea or Caspian Sea.
An arrival in the coming months
Vladimir Putin called the Zircon missiles unique in the world and said their delivery to the Russian armed forces will begin in the coming months. “The frigate Admiral Gorchkov will be the first to carry out its combat missions with these massive weapons on board,” said the Kremlin chief. “The Russian Navy is capable of a lightning-fast response to anyone who decides to violate our sovereignty and freedom,” he added.
Hypersonic missiles can travel at nine times the speed of sound. Russia has conducted several test firings of Zircon missiles from warships and submarines over the past year.