The Russian Navy has deployed a fleet, including the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, to Havana, Cuba, for military exercises. The Admiral Gorshkov, equipped with Zircon hypersonic missiles, and the Kazan, carrying cruise missiles, arrived in Havana on June 12, 2024. The deployment is seen as a significant show of force, with the vessels coming within 25 miles of the Florida coast. The U.S. Navy has dispatched warships and aircraft to monitor the Russian fleet closely. The exercises are scheduled to take place between June 12 and June 17, 2024, and come amid heightened tensions over Western support for Ukraine. Upon entering Havana harbor, the Admiral Gorshkov fired a 21-gun salute, which was answered by the Cubans. The fleet also includes the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker and the tanker Akademik Pashin.
