No, video does not show 'Russian naval exercises with nuclear submarines' near Florida

By: Umme Kulsum
June 14 2024

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Screenshot of a video post claiming Russia is conducting marine exercises with nuclear submarines just 66 miles off the coast of Florida. (Source: Instagram/Modified by Logically Facts)

What’s the claim?

A video of a submarine firing four missiles is circulating widely on social media, accompanied by claims that it depicts Russian naval exercises with nuclear submarines near the coast of Florida in the United States. An Instagram user posted the clip with overlaid text: “Breaking: Russia conducting naval exercises with nuclear submarines just 66 miles off Florida’s coast. The 'Let’s keep sending more tax dollars to Ukraine' crowd is real quiet right now.” The post had over 1,000 likes at the time of writing.

The footage has also garnered significant attention on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), with one such post receiving over 3 million views.

Screenshot of claims made online. (Source: Facebook/X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the video is neither recent nor does it show a missile test off the coast of Florida.

What we found

Logically Facts conducted a reverse image search using keyframes from the viral clip and found that the same video was uploaded to YouTube by the American news network Voice of America (archived here) six years ago, on May 23, 2018. Titled "Russian Ministry of Defense released a VIDEO of a nuclear submarine test-fired of 4 ballistic missiles," the video depicts a Russian nuclear-powered submarine successfully test-firing four intercontinental ballistic missiles on May 22, 2018.

Named Yuri Dolgoruky, the submarine launched the Bulava missiles in a single salvo from a submerged position in the White Sea off the northwest coast of Russia, demonstrating the country's naval capabilities. Additionally, the missiles' mock warheads reached designated practice targets at the Kura shooting range—a major missile test site for the Russian military.—on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

The same video was also found on YouTube, posted by China's state-run news network CGTN (archived here) on May 23, 2018. The description confirms it depicts Russia's Yuri Dolgoruky submarine test-launching four Bulava ballistic missiles in the White Sea towards a testing area on the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

Associated Press also shared pictures from the same event where a Russian submarine test-launched the ballistic missiles in the White Sea in May 2018. 

Clearly, an old video of a Russian missile test in the White Sea is being shared with the false claim that it depicts missile tests off the coast of Florida.

Are there Russian Submarines near the Florida Coast?

According to a video report by the BBC (archived here), four Russian naval vessels, including a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate, were observed in Cuba, signaling a show of force amid escalating tensions with the West over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

These vessels are currently anchored in Havana Bay, just 90 miles (145 km) from the coast of Florida. Despite their presence, Cuba's foreign ministry has clarified that none of the ships are armed with nuclear weapons and emphasized that their visit does not pose a threat to the region.

However, this particular video does not depict missiles being launched by these naval vessels.

The verdict

The viral clip shows a submarine test conducted by Russia in May 2018 from the northwest coast of Russia, not off the coast of Florida.