United States President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines to undisclosed locations, following what he described as “highly provocative” threats made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The decision, announced in a statement posted on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, is seen as a direct response to Medvedev’s recent warnings to the U.S., amid escalating tensions over the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Based on the highly provocative statements of the former president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev… I have ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions,” Trump stated.
While the U.S. leader did not specify whether the submarines were nuclear-armed or nuclear-powered, nor disclose their locations, in line with military protocol, he stressed that the action was a precautionary measure.
“A threat was made, and we didn’t think it was appropriate,” Trump told reporters later. “I have to be very careful. I do this on the basis of safety for our people. We’re going to protect our people.”
The Kremlin has not officially commented on the development. However, Moscow’s stock market reacted swiftly, recording a sharp drop after the announcement.
Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has in recent days stepped up his rhetoric against the United States, criticizing Trump’s repeated ultimatums directed at Moscow.
Trump had earlier issued a deadline for President Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war by 8th August, threatening further economic sanctions, including tariffs on Russian oil and other exports.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Medvedev called Trump’s ultimatum a “step towards war” and described the former U.S. president’s threats as “theatrical.” In a separate Telegram message, he warned of a “dead hand” threat, believed to refer to Russia’s automated nuclear retaliation system.
The verbal sparring between both leaders has intensified over the past week, with Trump calling Medvedev “the failed former president of Russia” and warning him to “watch his words.”
Analysts have expressed concern over the escalating rhetoric, noting that both Russia and the United States control the world’s largest nuclear arsenals. The situation has raised fears of renewed global instability at a time of ongoing armed conflict in Eastern Europe.
Medvedev remains a strong supporter of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has consistently criticized Western nations for backing Kyiv.