President Vladimir Putin has sent a warship armed with new hypersonic cruise missiles on a training mission past Britain to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean.

In a video conference with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Igor Krokhmal, commander of the frigate named "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov", Putin said the ship was armed with Zircon hypersonic weapons.

The Russian President said: "I am sure that such powerful weapons will make it possible to reliably protect Russia from potential external threats and will help ensure the national interests of our country.


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