Putin says nearly all of Russia's nuclear forces have been modernised

Russian President Vladimir Putin gets ready to fly on a modernized Tu-160M nuclear-capable strategic bomber, in Kazan, Russia February 22, 2024. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that 95% of Russia's strategic nuclear forces had been modernised and that the Air Force had just taken delivery of four new supersonic nuclear-capable bombers.

Putin made the comments in a recorded speech to mark Russia's annual Defender of the Fatherland Day, which celebrates the armed forces, a day after he flew on a modernised Tu-160M nuclear-capable strategic bomber.