Russia developing seabed nuclear missiles, German investigation finds

A German investigation identified a classified Russian project called Skif to deploy nuclear missiles in sealed seabed containers launched by remote signal.nv
Russia’s three-day nuclear exercise mobilizing nearly 65,000 troops and all three legs of its nuclear triad concludes Thursday, according to Defense News.defensenews
Belarus tested deployment of Russian tactical nuclear warheads on its soil during the drills, drawing condemnation from Ukraine and alarm across NATO.dw

Russia and Belarus Nuclear Drills Alarm NATO as German Investigation Reveals Seabed Missile Project

NATO intelligence services have been closely tracking Russia’s Northern Fleet amid growing concerns that Moscow is advancing a secret program to deploy nuclear-armed missiles on the Arctic Ocean seabed, according to an investigation published on May 21 by German public broadcasters WDR and NDR. The report identifies a classified project codenamed “Skif,” under which Russia is believed to be developing remote-controlled missile systems housed in sealed containers dropped from submarines to the ocean floor.nv

The revelation comes as Russia wraps up its largest nuclear exercises in years, a three-day drill running from May 19 through May 21 that mobilized nearly 65,000 troops, over 200 missile launchers, 140 aircraft, 73 surface vessels, and 13 submarines — including eight strategic nuclear submarines.defensenews

A Hidden Arsenal Beneath the Sea

The Skif system, developed by the Rubin Design Bureau and the Makeyev State Rocket Center, is designed to sit dormant on the seabed in a sealed container until it receives a remote launch signal. In standby mode, the unit can remain undetected for months. Its chief advantage is near-total invisibility to satellite surveillance and space-based missile defense systems.www1

Russian state media have previously described the system as a counter to American missile defense concepts, noting that neither satellites nor anti-ballistic missile elements can locate such a weapon in advance. NATO intelligence agencies are now trying to determine how close the program is to operational deployment, according to the German broadcasters’ findings.united24media

Nuclear Drills Raise Alarm Across NATO

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the exercises without prior public notice on May 19, framing them as a rehearsal for “the preparation and use of nuclear forces in the event of a threat of aggression”. The drills involve all three components of Russia’s nuclear triad — land-based ballistic missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and strategic bombers. Parts of the Barents Sea were closed to civilian navigation and air traffic for live missile launches.arctictoday

The exercises expanded from what had initially been announced as joint Russian-Belarusian tactical nuclear drills. Belarus began its own nuclear readiness exercises on May 18, testing deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons stationed on its territory. The Belarusian Defense Ministry said the drills would evaluate its preparedness to deploy nuclear munitions across various regions of the country. Ukraine condemned the exercises, accusing Russia of endorsing nuclear proliferation.dw

Wider Pattern of Escalation

The disclosures arrive against a backdrop of escalating Russian military provocations along NATO’s borders. In 2025 alone, NATO members recorded 18 confirmed Russian airspace violations — a 200 percent increase over 2024 — with the pace continuing into 2026. RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled as recently as April after Russian drones were detected near NATO territory along the Black Sea frontier.londonlovesbusiness

Russia also delivered nuclear warheads to sites in Belarus as part of the three-day exercise, according to Al Jazeera, further compounding anxieties among Eastern European allies already pressing for stronger alliance deterrence measures.aljazeera