Russia Nuclear-powered Submarines Launch Missiles in Barents Sea Drills

A nuclear submarine of Russia's Northern Fleet fires a missile during a drill in the Barents Sea, Russia, in this still image from a video published June 19, 2024. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
A nuclear submarine of Russia's Northern Fleet fires a missile during a drill in the Barents Sea, Russia, in this still image from a video published June 19, 2024. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
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Russia Nuclear-powered Submarines Launch Missiles in Barents Sea Drills

A nuclear submarine of Russia's Northern Fleet fires a missile during a drill in the Barents Sea, Russia, in this still image from a video published June 19, 2024. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
A nuclear submarine of Russia's Northern Fleet fires a missile during a drill in the Barents Sea, Russia, in this still image from a video published June 19, 2024. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

Nuclear-powered submarines of Russia's Northern Fleet launched cruise missiles at sea targets as part of exercises in the Barents Sea, Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday, citing the fleet's news service.

"The nuclear submarine missile cruisers ... of Northern Fleet carried out practical missile firing at sea targets in the Barents Sea," the TASS news agency reported, citing the statement from fleet.

The Severodvinsk and the Orel nuclear-powered submarines fired Kalibr and Granit cruise missiles a distance of about 170 km at a target simulating a detachment of landing ships of a mock enemy, the Interfax news agency reported.

"According to objective control data, the combat exercise was completed successfully," Interfax said, citing the fleet statement. "The missile weapons used have once again confirmed their inherent characteristics and high reliability."

The missile firing area was closed in advance to civilian shipping and aviation flights, Reuters reported.
The Barents Sea in the Arctic Ocean is located off the northern coasts of Norway and Russia and is divided between Norwegian and Russian territorial waters.



Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Visits Sumy Region Bordering Russia’s Kursk Province

 Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 3, 2024. (Reuters)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 3, 2024. (Reuters)
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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Visits Sumy Region Bordering Russia’s Kursk Province

 Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 3, 2024. (Reuters)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 3, 2024. (Reuters)

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday he had visited the northern Sumy region, from where Ukraine launched a major incursion into the neighboring Russian Kursk region in August.

Almost two months into the surprise incursion, Kyiv's troops control swathes of Russian border territory, though the pace of the advance has slowed and Moscow's forces have begun to counterattack.

"It is crucial to understand that the Kursk operation is a really strategic thing, something that adds motivation to our partners, motivation to be with Ukraine, be more decisive and put pressure on Russia," Zelenskiy said on Telegram.

Shown alongside his top army commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, visiting the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, the president thanked the military for defending Ukraine's territorial integrity.

He said the incursion, which Ukraine says is bringing war back to Russia, "has greatly helped" Kyiv to secure the latest military support packages from the West.

"We need to motivate the whole world and convince them that Ukrainians can be stronger than the enemy," he told the servicemen.

Zelenskiy added that he had held a meeting with his military command, which had discussed the front lines and the energy situation in the Sumy region. Russia has been pummeling regional electricity infrastructure, leading to power cuts.