Putin on Defenders of the Fatherland Day: We are united like no other

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an event held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow dedicated to the "Defenders of the Fatherland" Day, and in support of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, "We are united...we have no equal."

And the Russian President added: "A fight is now taking place on our historical frontiers in defense of our citizens, with brave fighters like those who stand next to us here today ... Defenders of the Fatherland ... Medical workers, employees of defense institutions, transport, as well as children who write letters to the fighters ".

He continued, "Today, as we protect our interests, as we protect our people, our culture, our language, and our country. The entire people becomes the defender of the homeland."

President Putin emphasized that Russian soldiers are fighting heroically and bravely in the special operation, and Russia is proud of them.

And the president continued, saying: "The homeland is the family and in the hearts of all Russian citizens it occupies the same place... The Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland has an important meaning for our country and our people."

The Russian President thanked all the participants and supporters of the special military operation, which aims primarily to defend the homeland, saying: "I thank all the participants in the special military operation that aims to defend our homeland, its culture and history."

In conclusion, the Russian President emphasized: "When we are together, united, we have no equal. For the unity of the Russian people."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his speech to the Federal Assembly yesterday that Russia will suspend its participation in the Russian Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, stressing that his country does not withdraw from the treaty.

According to him, before returning to the discussion, "we must understand for ourselves what countries like France and Britain are still demanding, and how we will take into account their strategic arsenal, that is, the joint offensive capability of NATO."

The following is basic information about Russia's strategic nuclear forces:

Russia is one of the world's leading nuclear powers, and according to the "Fundamentals of Russian State Policy in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence" issued in 2020, Russia considers nuclear weapons exclusively as a means of deterrence, and their use is an exceptional and necessary measure, and all necessary efforts are being taken to reduce the nuclear threat and prevent Exacerbation of relations between states that provoke military conflicts, including nuclear conflicts.

Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces are designed to deter aggression and destroy the enemy's strategic targets in a nuclear war, and represent the main component of the country's nuclear forces, including the Strategic Missile Forces and part of the Navy: Naval Strategic Nuclear Forces, and part of the Aerospace Forces: Aviation Strategic Nuclear Forces .

Strategic nuclear forces rely on fixed and mobile ground systems of intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic missile submarines, and strategic bombers equipped with air-to-ground strategic cruise missiles and air bombs.

The exact amount of nuclear weapons in Russia's possession is a state secret, and under the START III treaty, by February 5, 2018 (the treaty's key date) Russia's total capacity was 527 units to deploy intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine ballistic missiles, and heavy bombers. , 1,444 units for warheads for intercontinental ballistic missiles and ballistic missiles, as well as for nuclear warheads calculated as heavy bombers, and 779 units for non-deployable and intercontinental ballistic missiles and weapons.

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, as of January 2022, Russia possessed 5,977 nuclear warheads, including 1,588 deployed on combat-ready launch vehicles, and 2,889 in a stalled state. The remainder is in reserve, in long-term storage facilities, or is being prepared for post-service processing.

The same data is provided by the Federation of American Scientists, the successors to the creators of the Manhattan Project (the code name for the US program to develop nuclear weapons).

And at the end of 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that approximate parity is being maintained between Russia and the United States of America in terms of carriers and the number of nuclear warheads.

The Strategic Missile Forces are armed with 5 types of ICBMs:

"Yaris" RS-24, which is called SS-29 according to the classification of "NATO"

"Satan" (Satan), which is called SS-18 according to the classification "NATO"

"Topol" RT-2PM2, which is called SS-27 according to the classification of "NATO"

Sarmat RS-28, which is called SS-28 according to NATO classification.

"Avanguard", which is called the SS-19 according to the classification of "NATO"

In 2022, the Russian Navy will have 10 nuclear submarines carrying ballistic missiles with a maximum range of 8,000 km.

Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers, capable of carrying Kh-55 cruise missiles with a payload capacity of 200-500 kilotons, are the main carriers of nuclear weapons in the Russian Aerospace Forces.

In addition, Russia has tactical nuclear weapons designed to increase firepower in combat operations in a limited geographic area, which could be, for example, artillery ammunition.

Russia is now in the final stages of a multi-year modernization of its strategic and non-strategic nuclear forces, replacing Soviet-era weapons with newer systems. In December 2021, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that modern weapons and equipment make up 89.1% of Russia's nuclear triad.

It falls to the Strategic Missile Forces about 60% of strategic deterrence tasks (the Strategic Missile Forces account for more than 60% of aircraft carriers and nuclear warheads, and therefore rearming them with new missile systems is a priority.

Source: RT More News