As a warning to the western nations, and in particular the US, Russia test-fired four Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles from the nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgoruky on May 22.
Fired from the submarine in a submerged position from the White Sea, the missiles successfully hit targets on the Kura range in the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The press service of the Russian Northern Fleet said the test confirmed the combat readiness of the Project-955 Borei strategic submarine.
The Yuri Dolgoruky is the lead strategic nuclear submarine of the Project 955 Borei class and it was the first salvo launch from this type of submarine. The submarine is capable of carrying up to 16 Bulava sea-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, in addition to torpedoes.
The Bulava missile is capable of carrying 10 warheads of 150 kilotonnes each to a distance of 10,000 kilometres. The missile can easily strike the US mainland in case of a war.
The salvo launch is significant as both the Bulava and the Borei are the first 'post-Soviet' nuclear weapon systems to enter the Russian navy as most existing submarines and missiles were designed and built in the Soviet era. The salvo launch shows increased Russian confidence in the Bulava, which has experienced multiple test failures in the last 15 years.
Vladimir Putin has been ramping up Russia's nuclear capabilities in response to the US deploying ballistic missile defense systems in Europe. Diplomatic ties between the countries took a turn for the worst after poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the UK.