Russia has said that its military has conducted a Northern sea route protection exercise featuring missile launches.
The images purport to show a Russian warship and submarine taking part in the military exercise, along with mobile missile launchers.
The images show a missile being fired from the Russian warship before a second missile is seen being fired from one of the mobile launchers.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence on Monday, 18th September, along with a statement claiming: “In the northeast of Russia, under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, a tactical exercise is taking place for the defence of the Northern Sea Route.
“In the waters of the Chukotka and Bering Seas, as well as on the Chukotka Peninsula, tactical exercises of the Pacific Fleet forces (troops) continue under the name ‘Finval-2023’ for the protection of communications along the Northern Sea Route. The exercise is conducted under the leadership of Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy.
“The first episode of the exercise involved conducting combat exercises to defeat a group of ships in the northeastern part of the Bering Sea. Missile strikes were carried out by the crews of the Guard missile cruiser ‘Varyag’, the nuclear-powered underwater missile cruiser ‘Tomsk’, and the coastal missile complex ‘Bastion’.
“Firing with cruise missiles such as ‘Vulkan’, ‘Granit’, and ‘Oniks’ from their respective naval and coastal launch platforms was conducted against a complex target position, simulating a group of ships of a hypothetical enemy in the Bering Sea. According to objective control data, all missiles successfully hit their designated targets hundreds of kilometres away from the launch points.
“Approximately 10,000 military personnel and over 50 units of combat equipment are involved in the tactical exercise, including surface ships and support vessels, submarines, aircraft, and helicopters of the naval aviation, coastal missile complexes ‘Bal’ and ‘Bastion’, as well as highly mobile wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles.
“During the manoeuvres, a series of complex missile and artillery firings continue, and training is conducted in anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-landing defence, as well as Arctic off-road vehicle marches.
“All episodes of the exercise are defensive in nature and are intended to enhance the readiness of forces and troops for actions on the northeastern frontiers of Russia.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 572nd day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 18th September 2023, Russia had lost about 272,940 personnel, 4,623 tanks, 8,834 armoured combat vehicles, 6,027 artillery units, 776 multiple launch rocket systems, 525 air defence systems, 315 warplanes, 316 helicopters, 4,769 drones, 1,462 cruise missiles, 20 warships, 1 submarine, 8,571 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 901 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukrainian forces have reportedly recaptured the strategically significant village of Klishchiivka, on the frontlines near Bakhmut, according to the country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence has said that it downed three Ukrainian drones over south-western Crimea on the evening of Sunday, 17th September.
Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, is returning home from Russia after a six-day trip that caused concern in the West over potential weapons deals between the two countries.
General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that North Korea may be able to bolster Russia’s artillery munitions but he added that this would not likely make a significant difference on the battlefield.
Russian custom records reportedly show that Russia has imported over USD 7.1 million worth of equipment manufactured by American energy giant Halliburton since the company announced the end of its Russian operations.
Haliburton is one of the world’s biggest companies providing services and products for the oil and gas industry and it reportedly sold its Russian office to local interests following the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has said that Ukraine will continue its attacks against Russian ships in the Black Sea.
He said: “There will be more drones, more attacks, and fewer Russian ships. That’s for sure.”
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said that the United States is set to provide further aid to Ukraine next week.
The announcement comes as US President Joe Biden is set to host Zelensky at the White House next Thursday.
The UK Ministry of Defence has said that Russia will most likely be able to build up a significant stockpile of cruise missiles and use them to target Ukrainian infrastructure over the winter.
Poland was set to ban passenger cars from Russia from entering its country as of Sunday.
