Russia’s strategic nuclear naval forces maintain full combat readiness, a Kremlin adviser has declared, as Ukraine continues to strike Russian vessels in the Black and Azov Seas. The statement from Nikolai Patrushev, chairman of Russia’s Maritime Board and a former FSB chief, comes amid a growing campaign by Kyiv against Moscow’s shadow fleet and naval assets.
In an interview with the state-run RIA Novosti agency, Patrushev said the Russian navy is capable of ensuring national security across all seas and oceans under any scenario. – Our strategic nuclear forces of the navy maintain a state of full combat readiness – Patrushev said. The remarks were published on Thursday, July 16, 2026, and quickly drew attention from Ukrainian and international observers.
The Kyiv Independent noted that the warning coincides with an intensified Ukrainian campaign in the Black and Azov Seas. Ukrainian drone strikes have hit dozens of Russian ships, including those belonging to the so-called shadow fleet used to circumvent sanctions. According to Ukrainian officials, these attacks are part of a broader effort to degrade Russia’s ability to project power at sea and to protect grain export corridors.
Nuclear rhetoric and military drills
Patrushev, who chairs the Russian Maritime Board formed by President Vladimir Putin in 2024, also claimed that Russia is prepared to defend its national interests both near its borders and in various regions of the world’s oceans. He stated that the navy’s development strategy through 2050, including its long-term shipbuilding plan, takes into account all threats from potential adversaries.
The mention of nuclear readiness comes roughly two months after Russia conducted large-scale exercises involving its nuclear forces in May 2026. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the drills involved the Northern and Pacific Fleets, with 73 surface ships and 13 submarines taking part. Eight of those submarines were reportedly armed with strategic missiles. The exercises also included ground and air components, underscoring the integrated nature of Russia’s nuclear deterrent posture.
China’s warning to Moscow
Despite the nuclear rhetoric from Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that China sent a clear signal to Russia against any use of nuclear weapons. Speaking during a recent NATO summit in Turkey, Zelensky said European leaders informed him that Beijing had reacted firmly to speculation in Russian state media about a potential nuclear response to Ukrainian attacks.
– I think you have heard such voices in Russian media: 'What if we respond to Ukrainian attacks with nuclear weapons?’ It seems to me that for the first time China reacted directly in a form resembling an ultimatum – that one cannot even think of using nuclear weapons – Zelensky said. The Ukrainian leader’s remarks suggest that Beijing’s stance may be acting as a restraint on Moscow’s nuclear sabre-rattling, though the Kremlin has not publicly commented on any such communication.
The situation remains tense, with both sides actively maneuvering in the maritime domain. Ukraine’s ongoing drone and missile strikes on Russian warships and auxiliary vessels have forced Moscow to redeploy assets and reconsider its defensive posture in the Black Sea. Meanwhile, Patrushev’s statement serves as a reminder that Russia continues to brandish its nuclear capabilities as a strategic deterrent.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. RIA Novosti
