Russian Foreign Intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin said on Tuesday that the ‘return’ of Crimea to Ukraine is impossible.
"This is impossible," Naryshkin told TASS commenting on Kiev's recently announced intentions to launch work on ‘returning back Crimea.’
The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russian, refused to recognize the legitimacy of authorities that seized power amid riots during the illegitimate coup of February 2014 in Ukraine.
Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.7% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification treaties on March 18, 2014. The documents were ratified by Russia’s Federal Assembly, or bicameral parliament, on March 21.
Despite the overwhelming results of the referendum, Ukraine still refuses to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.
Shoigu Inspects Vostok Group HQ During Work in Special Operation Zone
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspected the headquarters of the Vostok group operating in Ukraine during work in the special military operation zone, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
"Shoigu inspected the headquarters of the Vostok group of troops in the course of work in the zone of the special military operation," the ministry said in a statement.
The minister also heard a report from the commander of the group, Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov, on the current situation and the actions of the group of troops commanding in other directions, the statement read.
‘Doomsday Weapon’: Russian Nuclear Sub Will Reportedly Get Advanced Torpedo Drones in ‘Near Future
Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled the nuclear-tipped Poseidon drone during his message to the Federal Assembly in 2018.
The first batch of Poseidon state-of-the-art underwater torpedo drones has been produced for the nuclear-powered Russian submarine Belgorod, Russian state media reported, citing an unnamed source in the country’s Defense Ministry.
The source argued that the submarine would be equipped with these nuclear-armed drones “in the near future", and that “separate tests” of the Poseidon’s core components have been successfully completed.
In October 2022, an Italian newspaper referred to unnamed NATO intelligence source claiming that a Russian nuclear submarine carrying the Poseidon, which is known in the Western press as the “Doomsday weapon”, had left the base for possible nuclear tests.
The paper also asserted that the Poseidon drone’s launch can be likened to that of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which can cause a "radioactive tsunami."
This followed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announcing the successful completion of the Poseidon's sea range tests in 2021.
Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled the Poseidon in 2018, touting it as one of half a dozen new strategic systems meant to ensure Russia’s ability to retaliate in the event of nuclear aggression by the US or its allies.
©Photo : YouTube/Russian Defence Ministry
According to Putin, the drone is capable of traveling at great depths and with an intercontinental range at speeds that are several times greater than most submarines and modern torpedoes can achieve.
The Belgorod, which is more than 608 feet (184 meters) in length, and also known as Project 09852, remains the longest submarine in the world, even longer that the US Navy’s Ohio class ballistic missile submarine. The Belgorod, which has a crew of 118 and moves at a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h), is designed to implement the Russian navy’s “special missions”.
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