Putin oversees launch of new warships, submarines

SMA NEWS – MOSCOW
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday oversaw the commissioning of several new warships and a nuclear-powered submarine, as he vowed to further strengthen Russia’s navy.
Putin gave the green light for Russian flags to be hoisted on the new vessels via video link.
Among the newly commissioned vessels were a corvette, a minesweeper and the Generalissimus Suvorov nuclear-powered submarine that is capable of launching ballistic missiles.
Another submarine, Emperor Alexander III, was put to sea on Thursday and will be commissioned following trials.
“We will increase the pace and volume of construction of various ships, and equip them with the most modern weapons,” Putin said in televised remarks.
“All in all, everything to reliably ensure Russia’s security, the protection of our national interests in the world ocean.”
Putin has made strengthening his armed forces a top priority, equipping the navy with new warships and adding hypersonic missiles described by Putin as “invincible”, to Russia’s arsenal.
This comes as more Western supplies pour into Ukraine. According to an interview published on Friday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on NATO member states to supply more weapons to Ukraine.
In an address to a group of Western leaders last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for a wide range of weapons and air defense systems to help combat efforts.