A week after Norway’s defence minister warned about the burgeoning capabilities of Russia’s Northern Fleet, based in Murmansk, Russia proved his point.

On Monday, it launched its newest submarine, the Khabarovsk , designed to carry the nuclear-powered, nuclear-tipped torpedo Poseidon . Vladimir Putin claims this doomsday weapon was successfully tested last month. Russia’s defence minister, Andrei Belousov , said the Khabarovsk can also deploy other robotic underwater weapons. It can probably fire long-range cruise missiles, too.

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte unwisely mocked Russia’s naval capabilities last month, but its fleet poses a significant threat to the UK. New Feature

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