The Russian defense ministry said on Tuesday that a Russian naval frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine carried out missile exercises in the Atlantic Ocean while heading to Cuba.
The submarine Kazan and the warship Admiral Gorshkov launched high-precision missiles at simulated enemy targets from over 600 kilometers (370 miles) away. Additionally, the Admiral Gorshkov recently trained to defend against an air attack, Russian defense ministry said.
The ships are part of a group of four Russian warships scheduled to arrive in Cuba on Wednesday.
The Admiral Gorshkov is equipped with the latest Zircon hypersonic missiles, AP reported. This weapon, intended for Russian cruisers, frigates, and submarines, can target both enemy ships and ground installations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the Zircon for its ability to breach any current anti-missile defenses, boasting a speed nine times faster than sound and a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers (over 620 miles).
Last week, Cuba stated that such visits are routine for naval units from friendly nations and that the ships do not carry nuclear weapons or pose a threat to the region. Despite this, the United States will closely monitor the visit due to heightened tensions with Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.
A U.S. official told reporters last week that while the United States does not view the move as threatening, the U.S. Navy will keep an eye on the exercises.
The Admiral Gorshkov has been utilized by Russia to test and deploy Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles and participated in joint exercises with the Chinese and South African navies in 2023.
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