Two Russian nuclear-powered submarines simulated a “duel” during recent tactical drills in the Arctic, the RBC news website reported Thursday.
Two Northern Fleet Sierra-class submarines, the titanium-hulled Pskov and Nizhny Novgorod, sailed out from their homeports toward the Norwegian Sea for deep-sea diving and weapon testing two weeks ago.
The Pskov and the Nizhny Novgorod impersonated each other’s enemies and practiced pursuit and evasion techniques during the drills in the Barents Sea, the Northern Fleet told RBC.
“The most difficult and crucial stage of the joint underwater maneuvers was firing torpedoes at an underwater target,” the Russian Navy’s northern branch was quoted as saying.
“The crews performed this exercise in a dueling variation,” it added.
Norway’s military intelligence said late last month that at least six other Russian nuclear-powered submarines sailed out alongside the Pskov and the Nizhny Novgorod to test NATO’s ability to discover them.
The Barents Observer reported that these were the first such maneuvers by the Northern Fleet to take place since the Cold War.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
