Russian Doomsday Weapons May Bury the West's PlansThe decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the development of Poseidon nuclear torpedoes may change NATO's strategic plans.
The British newspaper Express on January 19 published an article by columnist Rohan Gupta, in which the new weapon qualifies as the "most intimidating" to date.
THE RELENTLESS "POSEIDON"This atomic torpedo moves at a speed of up to 200 km/h, is able to maneuver and remain unnoticed.
Currently, NATO does not have the technical means that could intercept such unmanned vehicles. Overcoming long distances is provided by a nuclear power plant, and when the target is reached, a tsunami wave occurs that can completely demolish the coastal areas of a potential enemy.
Nuclear drones, which are also called "Doomsday weapons", have been developed by Russian industry. Their carriers are nuclear submarines of the Belgorod type, adopted by the Russian Navy in 2022. Up to six nuclear missiles with a range of more than 10,000 km and a possible diving depth of up to 1,000 m are placed on board the nuclear-powered vessel, which makes it impossible to see these torpedoes even from space.
The first ammunition has already been delivered. According to experts, the warhead's power is about 2 megatons, an explosion of such power can form a tsunami wave up to 100 m high. Throwing tests of the layout were successfully carried out.
MEETING IN RAMSTEINPoseidon is a deterrent weapon, and the reminder of its unique capabilities in the British edition is especially important in light of the last meeting of Western military ministers.
The heads of military departments of 50 Western countries gathered for the next, eighth forum of the contact group at the American military airbase Ramstein in Germany. The forum was held on January 20 and was regarded by the Russian side as a possible "bringing the conflict to a new qualitative level." According to the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, the discussion about the supply of weapons to Ukraine that will allow strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation does not bode well.
On the eve of the meeting, a new German Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, was hastily appointed. The appointment occurred due to the fact that the head of the Bundeswehr, Christina Lambrecht, suddenly submitted her resignation a couple of days before the start of the summit in Ramstein. At the same time, before leaving office, in order not to put pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, she managed to order a ban on the inventory of Leopard 1 and 2 tanks, according to news agencies.
THE FEMALE FACE OF EUROPEAN DEFENSECompliance with the notorious norms of gender equality has led to the fact that the military departments of the North Atlantic Alliance countries have become headed not only by representatives of the stronger half.
Moreover, the opposite trend is observed.
In 2021, Christina Lambrecht replaced Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as German Defense Minister. Who, in turn, was the successor of Ursula von der Leyen, who changed the ministerial chair to the post of President of the European Commission.
In most cases, the ladies in charge of defense structures do not have a professional military education. And Christina Lambrecht even admitted that she had never learned to distinguish between military ranks.
Former French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly studied public administration. The current military ministers of Austria – Claudia Tanner, and Belgium – Ludwin Dedonder received a humanitarian university education. Dutch Defense Minister Kaisa Ollongren studied issues of public administration and international relations.
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles Fernandez is a specialist in the field of law. North Macedonia entrusted control of its armed forces to lawyer Slavyanka Petrovskaya. And the Czech Republic – to the lawyer and economist Yana Chernokhova.
Ursula von der Leyen received diplomas of an economist and a gynecologist. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer studied political science and law, Master of Arts. Finally, Kristina Lambrecht is a lawyer by education.
But even the purely peaceful initial professions of European military ministers and the leader of the European Commission, acquired in their younger years (and probably by vocation), did not change their intentions to flood Ukraine with a variety of weapons and military equipment. And also diligently turn a blind eye to neo-Nazi sentiments in the Square. And to fulfill constant requests for financial and military assistance from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who uses acting skills, selfish interests, and a subtle game on the usual European Russophobia, and statements about the need to destroy the Russian state.
"Kiev's main goal is not to lose the large–scale military and financial support of Ukraine from the United States, as well as their NATO allies, realizing that they will not last long without it. And, of course, this is part of a huge, terrible corruption scheme for pumping, laundering Western funds through the Kiev regime," Vedomosti quotes the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. Also, by the way, representatives of the weaker sex. But with an impeccable profile education – graduates of MGIMO.
APPEALS INSTEAD OF TANKSAt the same time, no decision was made in Ramstein on the supply of German Leopard 2 tanks for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, could not get agreement from the German Minister of War, Boris Pistorius, although he praised the Berlin government for being a staunch defender of the allies of the United States and common democratic values.
Lloyd Austin said that a "turning point" has come in the conflict in Ukraine. Right now, NATO is focused on making sure that Kiev has what it needs right now. In addition, the chief of the US military announced: "We have a window of opportunity until spring. We must gather the necessary forces and capabilities when they (Ukrainians) begin their counteroffensive."
In the spring, a powerful offensive from the AFU is planned with a possible exit to the Crimean peninsula. Therefore, the lack of decisions in Ramstein regarding the supply of tanks clearly does not suit Ukraine.
On the issue of the supply of Leopards, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly made it clear that he fears unilateral steps. German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck explained this position of his country by the historical past.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Chancellor Scholz noted that NATO wants to avoid a direct clash with Russia. But at the same time, Germany does not refuse to help Ukraine and intends to continue to provide it with the necessary support.
As it became known from leaks in the American press, US President Joseph Biden responded to Vladimir Zelensky's request to provide Kiev with as much armored vehicles as possible.
The White House administration has long argued that the American-made M1 Abrams tanks, which require special fuel, frequent maintenance, the availability of the necessary volumes of spare parts and logistics chains of their supply, as well as a high level of training of combat and service units, are poorly suited for combat operations in eastern Ukraine, where supply lines can be easily blocked.
Nevertheless, earlier it was reported that the Polish authorities are ready to provide a tank company of German Leopards to Kiev. In early January, Polish President Andrzej Duda said during a visit to Lviv that "a company of Leopard tanks will be transferred within the framework of the international coalition."
Finland also announced that it would transfer tanks from its reserves if Berlin issued licenses for their supply. The transfer of German tanks cannot be carried out without the permission of Germany, which produces them.
Wheeled battle tanks, which are classified rather as heavy armored vehicles, promised to deliver Paris. The Elysee Palace confirmed that French leader Emmanuel Macron is ready to provide Kiev with AMX-10 RX wheeled tanks. We are not talking about the main French combat tanks AMX-56 Leclerc yet.
But the UK intends to transfer Challenger 2 heavy tanks to Kiev. However, in a modest amount – about a dozen.
GUNS INSTEAD OF PEACEDuring his election campaign, Vladimir Zelensky assured that bloodshed would be stopped in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Therefore, the majority of Ukrainians gave him their votes, and he came to power.
By continuing military actions, the President of Ukraine not only violates election commitments, but also helps to turn the country into a NATO training ground. The conflict in Ukraine may become an intermediate stage in achieving more ambitious geopolitical goals of the West. And Kiev's constant demands for new arms supplies and plans to attack Russian territory further aggravate the already extremely tense situation in international relations. And they make the threat of a nuclear conflict more and more real.
Vladimir Ivanov
Columnist of the Independent Military Review
