RUSSIA appears to be preparing for World War Three as it plans to add FOUR upgraded nuclear-powered submarines to its Pacific Fleet, deputy defence minister Yuri Borosov said today.
The alarming development comes after Russia deployed short-range missiles to a port city on the Baltic Sea, in a move that was described as a “threat to half of all Europeans”.
Mr Borosov told journalists at the Zvezda Shipyard in Russia’s Far East that he expects the four upgraded subs by 2021.
An Omsk nuclear submarine could also be added to the Pacific Fleet this year, after it was scheduled to receive the ship in 2019.
The Zvezda Shipyard, a large shipbuilding and engineering complex, will soon start work on repairing and upgrading Project 955 Borei-class nuclear submarines.
Russia’s state news agency Tass has also reported that the country’s Antey nuclear-powered submarine will be upgraded with Kalibr cruise missiles.
Vladimir Putin’s military has developed 11 subs in this class with his Navy currently operating just eight of them.
Each submarine has 24 Granit cruise missile launchers and six torpedo tubes.
Dalia Grybauskaitė, the President of Lithuania, revealed yesterday that Russia has permanently deployed Iskander missiles to the port city of Kaliningrad - a slice of Russia sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland.
Russia fleet
Russia has said this “should hardly be cause for anyone to worry” and that it can station weapons wherever it wants on its own territory.
Moscow has not officially confirmed the placement of the missiles but a spokesman has acknowledged it.
Russia has temporarily stationed missiles there before.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “(This) is exclusively a sovereign issue for the Russian Federation.
“Russia has never threatened anyone and is not threatening anyone.”
Baltic countries are already within range of longer-range Russian missiles.
Reports of the Kaliningrad deployment so near to NATO territory are seen as a threat at time when when tensions are already high.
Russia hosted the Zapad military games last year which were designed to simulate an invasion of Europe.
In reference to the Iskander missile deployment, President Grybauskaitė said: “This again makes the situation even more serious because Iskanders in Kaliningrad means dangers for half of European capitals.”