Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Collegium, stated on 15 July that the Russian Federation’s strategic nuclear naval forces are on full combat alert. In an interview with the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, he did not mention any new decision by Vladimir Putin, an order to switch the forces to a different operational mode, or any specific operational measures.
Briefly about the main points
- Patrushev declared that Russia’s strategic nuclear naval forces were fully ready.
- He did not mention Putin’s new order regarding the change in the state of readiness.
- The maritime component is based on nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.
- The statement was accompanied by references to plans for the development of the Russian Navy up to 2050.
- The Kremlin had previously announced its intention to modernise its strategic nuclear forces.
What exactly did Patrushev say?
Patrushev stated that Russia’s «strategic naval nuclear forces» are allegedly on full combat alert. The statement was reported by RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency.
His statement referred to what he assessed to be the current state of these forces. At present, there is no information regarding a new decision by Putin, a date for a change in the alert status, or an order to deploy missile carriers.
Therefore, the claim that the Kremlin has now put its naval nuclear forces on full alert does not follow from Patrushev’s remarks.
Which forces are being referred to?
In military analysis and treaty terminology, naval strategic nuclear forces is part of the nuclear triad. Its key component is nuclear-powered submarines armed with submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
Multi-purpose submarines, surface vessels and coastal infrastructure are not automatically synonymous with strategic nuclear naval forces. Some of them may potentially be associated with non-strategic nuclear weapons, but that is a different category.
Fleet planning up to 2050
Patrushev also stated that Russia takes into account threats from «potential adversaries» in its Development Strategy Navy up to 2050 and the draft shipbuilding programme for the same period.
According to him, Putin approved the Navy Development Strategy on 30 May 2025. The contents of the document have not been made public. In May 2026, Putin stated that Russia would continue to modernise and develop its strategic nuclear forces.
A statement as a deterrent
The combination of this declaration of readiness with plans for the development of the fleet suggests that it may form part of Russia’s rhetoric of deterrence and a demonstration of the stated capabilities of the naval component of its nuclear forces.
At the same time, no details have been publicly released regarding specific exercises, the deployment of submarine-launched missile carriers or any other immediate operational changes. Patrushev’s remarks therefore do not constitute confirmation that these forces have been placed on high alert.
