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RUSSIAN NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE PLACED NO NUCLEAR TORPEDOES IN MEDITERRANEAN IN 1970

RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, March 22 (RIA Novosti) - Command of the Russian Navy refuted the allegations of several foreign media that a Soviet submarine placed "an unknown number of nuclear torpedoes" in the Mediterranean in 1970.

"On behalf of Russian Navy command, I deny vigorously the reports as utterly groundless. This is nothing more than groundless speculation that is absolutely untrustworthy and aimed at heightening tension in the Russian-Italian relations," Igor Dygalo, assistant to the Russian Navy commander, told the media.

According to the officer, several foreign media are exaggerating allegations that a submarine with the 5th Squadron of the Soviet Navy placed "an unknown number of nuclear torpedoes" in the vicinity of the Neapolitan Gulf. Some media mention 20 torpedoes.

Dygalo noted that the 5th Squadron of the Soviet Navy had operated in the Mediterranean since 1967 on a permanent basis. It was tasked with maintaining the balance of power based on the policies pursued by the Soviet Union.

According to several 5th Squadron commanding officers who led the force at different times, the Soviet warships had never entered the territorial waters of other countries because this was prohibited by relevant SOPs and orders governing the operations in the Mediterranean, Igor Dygalo said, adding that any violators of the orders would have faced harsh punishment.

"From the point of view of basic political analysis, reports on mining the Neapolitan Gulf with nuclear charges in 1970 holds no water either," the officer emphasized. The Soviet leadership would have never resorted to such steps, realizing the threat they would pose to the Mediterranean countries and the world as a whole.