Report: Russia launches submarine capable of carrying nuclear drone

Russia has launched a new nuclear-powered submarine named Khabarovsk, which the Kremlin claims could serve as a carrier for the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said the submarine was launched at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, one of the country’s key naval construction facilities.

According to the ministry, the ceremony marked the vessel’s exit from the assembly dock, and footage of the launch was shared on the ministry’s official social media accounts. The Khabarovsk was designed by the Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering “Rubin,” a leading developer of Russia’s nuclear submarine fleet.

Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said the vessel “will allow us to successfully carry out tasks to ensure the security of Russia’s maritime borders and to protect its national interests in various parts of the world’s oceans.” He added that the submarine is equipped with “modern naval underwater weapons, including robotic systems for various purposes.”

The submarine’s development has drawn attention because it is reportedly the first vessel purpose-built to carry the Poseidon underwater drone — a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed system designed for long-range strikes from beneath the ocean. Poseidon, sometimes referred to as a “doomsday weapon,” has been presented by Moscow as a deterrent capable of evading missile defenses.

While Russian officials have promoted the Poseidon system as a key part of their strategic deterrent, Western analysts continue to question both its operational readiness and its intended use. The Pentagon and allied intelligence services have tracked the program closely since its existence was first disclosed by Russian state television in 2015.

On October 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced what he called a “successful test” of the Poseidon drone. The device with a nuclear propulsion unit was launched from a submarine and operated for a certain period of time. His statement marked one of the few public acknowledgments of ongoing testing activity for the weapon.

For Moscow, the launch of Khabarovsk represents an attempt to demonstrate technological advancement amid growing tension with the West. Russia’s naval modernization efforts continue despite sanctions and constraints on its defense industry caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine.