A Russian Navy flotilla that includes a modern frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine He arrived this Wednesday morning in Havana as part of a scheduled visit that has generated great expectations due to its geopolitical significance.
The fleet oil tanker Pashin, leading the flotilla, began its entry into Havana Bay at 7:47 a.m. local time, with Cuban technical support.
According to the Cuban Government, this logistics ship is accompanied by the Gorshkov frigate, the Kazan nuclear-powered submarine and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker, which are scheduled to stop in Havana until June 17.
The US Department of Defense, which assured be following the fleet movements for dayshas stated that he does not perceive this Russian movement as a threat.
Offshore maneuvers
On the way to Cuba, Russian warships They carried out exercises in the Atlanticthe military said on Tuesday, as part of Moscow’s efforts to project power amid tensions with the West over Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan submarine carried out the exercise that was intended to simulate a missile attack against a group of enemy ships.
The ministry said the exercises involved a computer simulation of an attack on maritime targets more than 600 kilometers (more than 320 nautical miles) away.
A “super” missile
Admiral Gorshkov It is armed with new Zircon hypersonic missiles. The weapon has been designed to arm Russian cruisers, frigates and submarines and could be used against both enemy ships and against ground targets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has touted Zircon as a powerful weapon capable of penetrating any existing missile defense flying nine times faster than the speed of sound at a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers (more than 620 miles).
Admiral Gorshkov and the Kazan are accompanied by two support ships on their visit to Havana, which Cuban officials say reflects “historically friendly relations” between Russia and Cuba.
It is not the first time Russia has sent its warships to the Caribbean, but this week’s visit follows Putin’s warning that Moscow could respond to Ukraine’s Western allies allowing Kiev to use its weapons to attack targets in Russia. delivering similar weapons to Western adversaries around the world.
With agency information
