Putin seen deploying nuke sub to counter U.S. in Gulf

MOSCOW -- In his first demonstration of muscle-flexing, President Vladimir Putin is considering deploying a nuclear-powered submarine and a reconnaissance vessel in the Gulf.

The deployment is meant to stop U.S. naval seizures of Russian tankers in the Gulf suspected of smuggling Iraqi oil in violation of United Nations sanctions. The U.S. navy has been holding a Russian tanker for nearly three weeks.

The proposal being considered by Putin is to deploy two warships from the Russian Pacific Fleet. This would be the first Russian naval presence in the Gulf since 1995.

"The possibility of such a movement and the composition of the detachment is under discussion," Russian Defense Ministry sources told the Interfax news agency.

The Russian military press agency AVN said a nuclear submarine and a reconnaissance vessel would probably be moved to the Gulf.

Moscow has protested the seizure of two Russian tankers in the Gulf by U.S. warships. The latest interception was that of the Akademik Pustovoyt detained on April 6.

The proposal for the deployment of Russian warships comes as Moscow has raised its profile in relations with Iraq. Last week, Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev was reported as having examined with his Iraqi counterpart, Sultan Hashem Ahmad, prospects for the development of military cooperation between the two states.

In an unrelated development, Ukraine said an unarmed Russian navy cruise missile accidentally struck a Ukrainian ship during a Black Sea exercise. Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksandr Kuzmuk said one man was injured while Ukrainian television channel STB said five were injured, one crewman and four passengers.

Last week, a surface-to-surface Ukrainian missile killed three people when it accidentally hit a building in Brovary, near Kiev, during a test. In Kazakhstan, a Russian missile flew off course and crashed into the ground two kilometers from a village. No casualties were reported.