President Vladimir Putin is reportedly preparing to retaliate after US President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of nuclear submarines near the Russian coast. In response, Russia has moved four nuclear-capable bombers closer to Europe, a move widely interpreted as a signal of potential escalation. These aircraft have previously been used in strikes against Ukraine, and Western media reports suggest they are currently armed with missiles, indicating the possibility of a major attack.
Trump’s order came after a statement from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Putin. Acting swiftly, Russia repositioned its strategic bombers immediately after Trump’s action. Trump recently stated that US submarines are now “where they need to be,” in a clear warning to Moscow.
The Russian bombers were redeployed from the Olenya air base in the Arctic’s Murmansk region following Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory on June 1. Some bombers were also reportedly relocated from the Saratov region, due to concerns over potential Ukrainian attacks on Russian military infrastructure.
These bombers are part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent force, though they have also been used for conventional bombing missions in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed a significant military success, reporting that it shot down a Russian jet fighter and damaged four military aircraft in an assault on Russian-occupied Crimea just a day earlier.
As the military tension intensifies, the United States is considering fresh sanctions on Russia unless it moves toward a ceasefire and enters negotiations to end the ongoing war. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to travel to Russia tomorrow for diplomatic engagement. Washington has reportedly given Moscow a deadline until next Friday to halt hostilities.
Amid this high-stakes standoff, Russia has ramped up its attacks on Ukraine. In the latest wave of strikes, seven people were killed and 13 injured, including a four-month-old infant. At the same time, Russia and China have commenced joint naval exercises, further escalating geopolitical concerns.
Medvedev, who now serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, had earlier warned that Trump should remember the devastating power of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. He stated on social media platform X that Russia is not Israel or Iran and cautioned that each of Trump’s threats could bring the world closer to full-scale war. The US response came shortly after this warning, heightening fears of further escalation.
