Amid the US-Russia tensions over the Ukraine conflict, US President Donald Trump announced that he had directed the deployment of two nuclear submarines on Friday. This move follows what he called ‘provocative’ statements by Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.
“Based on the highly provocative statements,” Trump posted on Truth Social, “I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.” He cautioned further: “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.”
While such military details are typically kept confidential by the Pentagon, Trump’s public announcement added a new level of seriousness to what began as a digital exchange.
What Sparked the Reaction?
The flare-up began when Medvedev referenced the Cold War-era ‘Dead Hand’ automated nuclear retaliation system in a Telegram post, evoking fears of nuclear escalation. The system, a Soviet-era doomsday protocol, was mentioned amid his warnings to the West.
Responding in an interview, Trump said, “When you mention the word ‘nuclear’… my eyes light up. And I say, we better be careful, because it’s the ultimate threat.” He also revealed, “We always want to be ready. And so I have sent to the region two nuclear submarines. I just want to make sure that his words are only words and nothing more than that.”
Trump, however, did not clarify whether the submarines were nuclear-powered or carried nuclear weapons, nor did he specify their exact locations, information that usually remains classified.
War of Words Turns Alarming
Tensions between Trump and Medvedev had already been building online. Trump had earlier labelled the economies of Russia and India as ‘dead’, prompting a sharp rebuttal from Medvedev. On Monday, Medvedev warned on X (formerly Twitter), “He [Trump] should remember the formidable potential of our country.” By Thursday, he had escalated his rhetoric by referencing the fabled ‘Dead Hand’.
Trump quickly retaliated, calling Medvedev ‘the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President’, and warned that he was ‘entering very dangerous territory’!
Though Medvedev served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012, in recent years he has become one of the Kremlin’s most extreme voices online, often spreading ultra-nationalist views. However, many political observers believe his actual influence on state policy remains limited.
Russia’s Moves and the Broader Ukraine Crisis
The heated Trump-Medvedev exchange comes amid growing fears over Moscow’s increasing military assertiveness. Just before the online spat, Russian President Vladimir Putin had declared the start of mass production of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile and its deployment in Belarus later this year.
“Work is now underway to prepare these positions,” Putin said, alongside Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. “So, most likely, we will close this issue by the end of the year.”
Putin also reiterated Moscow’s demands regarding Ukraine, insisting that Kyiv must renounce its NATO aspirations and relinquish disputed territories. “Our demands are unchanged,” he said.
Meanwhile, Russia’s assault on Ukraine continues. A missile and drone strike on Kyiv on Thursday killed 31 people, including five children, sparking a day of national mourning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed calls for direct negotiations with Putin. “The United States has proposed this. Ukraine has supported it. What is needed is Russia’s readiness,” Zelensky posted on X.
