Russia tests underwater nuclear drone amid rising tension with US

Russia has successfully tested its nuclear-powered underwater drone, Poseidon, according to President Vladimir Putin. The Poseidon is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and is described as unmatched in speed and operating depth, with Putin claiming it "cannot be intercepted." This test marks the first time the drone was launched from its carrier submarine and its nuclear power unit was activated, allowing it to operate autonomously for a period. The drone’s nuclear reactor is notably compact—100 times smaller than those on submarines—yet powerful enough to deliver a warhead significantly stronger than Russia’s advanced Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. Unveiled in 2018, Poseidon is designed as a strategic deterrent and is often characterized as a doomsday weapon intended to create massive radioactive tsunamis by detonating near coastal targets. It can reportedly travel at speeds up to 200 km/h (124 mph), far exceeding traditional torpedoes and warships, and its nuclear propulsion grants it virtually unlimited range, making