Russia tests ‘Poseidon’ nuclear-powered underwater drone, Putin claims it’s unmatched

Russia has successfully conducted a test of its nuclear-capable, nuclear-powered underwater drone, Poseidon, President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday.

The move marks Moscow’s second test of an advanced nuclear weapon in just a few days, despite warnings from US President Donald Trump.

Putin revealed the test during a visit to a military hospital treating Russian soldiers injured in Ukraine. He said in televised remarks that another test had been conducted the previous day for a new prospective system — the unmanned underwater device Poseidon, which was also equipped with a nuclear power unit.

The Russian president described Poseidon as a one-of-a-kind weapon.

He claimed there was “no way to intercept” the underwater drone, which he said could travel faster than conventional submarines and reach any continent in the world. Putin added that it was unlikely anything similar would appear in the near future, emphasizing that no other country could match its speed and diving capabilities.

According to a source in Russia’s military-industrial complex quoted by state news agency TASS, Poseidon can operate at depths greater than one kilometre (0.6 mile) and reach speeds of up to 70 knots while remaining undetectable. The source said the device, first tested in 2018, is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of up to two megatons.

The announcement comes shortly after Putin oversaw a test of another nuclear-capable weapon — the Burevestnik cruise missile — which he said had an “unlimited range.” Trump had criticised that test, calling it “not appropriate.”

Following the Burevestnik launch, Trump urged Putin to prioritise ending the war in Ukraine instead of focusing on weapons testing. He said that Putin ought to end the war, which should have taken one week but was now nearing its fourth year, adding that ending the conflict was what Putin should focus on rather than testing missiles.

Tensions between the two leaders have deepened in recent weeks. The US president cancelled a planned summit with Putin in Budapest, accusing the Russian leader of refusing to compromise to end the conflict.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has sought a peace deal but has grown increasingly frustrated as talks stalled. Washington recently imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, with Trump complaining that his discussions with Putin “don’t go anywhere.”

Putin first introduced both Poseidon and Burevestnik in 2018 during a strongly anti-Western speech, where he highlighted Russia’s growing arsenal of advanced nuclear technologies.