Russia ramped up threats of World War Three as it launched a new nuclear submarine capable of unleashing radioactive tidal waves on Britain.
The hulking Khabarovsk is equipped to fire Vladimir Putin’s notorious Poseidon nuclear drone at Western coastlines.
The submarine’s launch – five years late due to repeated unexplained delays – was in Severodvinsk in Russia’s far north, observed by defence minister Andrei Belousov.
“The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Khabarovsk is being launched from the renowned Sevmash shipyard,” he said.
“Carrying underwater weapons and robotic systems, it will enable us to successfully secure Russia’s maritime borders and protect its national interests in various parts of the world’s oceans,” he said.
The Khabarovsk is now being sent for sea trials.
The submarine’s nuclear reactor and other technical specifications remain opaque and are classified as top secret.
Putin last week said that the Poseidon nuclear powered drone – capable of carrying an atomic warhead – had been successfully tested.
The Khabarovsk “special-purpose” submarine is designed to carry a dozen of the deadly new-style torpedoes powered by their own nuclear reactors.
“The power of the Poseidon far exceeds that of our most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, the Sarmat [aka Satan-2],” said Putin.
“There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.”
He threatened: “There are no means of intercepting it.”
Putin’s propaganda machine has repeatedly claimed that the Poseidon – launched by the Khabarovsk submarine – could “sink” Britain under “radioactive tidal waves”.
No figure has been given for the cost of the submarine which has a 10,000 ton displacement – but will be in excess of £1 billion.
The keel was laid down in 2014 and the Khabarovsk was originally due for launch in June 2020.