(Putin/Russian nuclear games update)
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004. Page 2
President Takes a Submarine Ride
By Simon Saradzhyan
Staff Writer
Itar-Tass / Reuters
Putin, flanked by Ivanov and Navy commander Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, walking on a pier in Severomorsk on Monday evening.
President Vladimir Putin boarded a Northern Fleet submarine Monday to observe first-hand ongoing nuclear war games that are to culminate this week with the flights of strategic bombers and launches of ballistic missiles.
Putin arrived at the fleet's headquarters in Severomorsk on Monday evening and shortly afterward was shown on television boarding the Arkhangelsk ballistic missile nuclear-powered submarine. The president, wearing a heavy naval coat and cap, was accompanied by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, who is commanding the strategic exercises.
The Akula-class submarine, which is armed 20 RSM-52 ballistic missiles along with other armaments, was then towed away from the dock with Putin on board, Interfax reported.
Putin was to stay on board until Tuesday afternoon to observe the launches of missiles in the Barents Sea, Rossia television reported.(snipped)
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/02/17/012.htmlHmmmm. Hiding out in a nuke sub!