{"id":77625,"date":"2018-03-01T18:05:52","date_gmt":"2018-03-01T18:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/01\/coersive-tactics-putin-touts-russias-invincible-nuclear-weapons\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:16:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:16:20","slug":"coersive-tactics-putin-touts-russias-invincible-nuclear-weapons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/03\/01\/coersive-tactics-putin-touts-russias-invincible-nuclear-weapons\/","title":{"rendered":"Coercive tactics? Putin touts Russia\u2019s \u2018invincible\u2019 nuclear weapons"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a March 1 speech that Russia has nuclear missiles impossible to intercept once launched, with unlimited range.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 In a dramatic presentation Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin touted the capabilities of Russian strategic forces, claiming the country now possesses nuclear weapons that are \u201cinvincible\u201d and can defeat any missile defense system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Russian leader used part of his two-hour state of the union address to show off video and animations of Russia\u2019s RS-28 Sarmat ICBM<\/a> and its Kanyon nuclear undersea drone<\/a>, as well as tease a potentially new nuclear-powered intercontinental cruise missile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This speech comes several weeks before presidential elections in Russia, in which Putin is expected to win a fourth term in office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the presentation, which featured a video of weapons striking the U.S. homeland, Putin claimed these systems were pursued by Russia because the U.S. pulled out of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and developed increasingly advanced missile defense capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t listen to our country then. Listen to us now,\u201d Putin said, adding that these capabilities were \u201cnot a bluff.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was highlighted? The first weapon, which Putin claimed would render U.S. defenses \u201cuseless,\u201d was the Sarmat<\/a>, one of Russia\u2019s largest ICBMs, which is capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads or hypersonic glide vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n