Bastion Defence Concept

Russia's Bastion Defense Concept, derived from Soviet strategy, today centres on defending sea-based nuclear assets. It involves creating protected enclaves, known as bastions, where its nuclear-missile-armed submarines can operate safely from potential threats, and relies on a multi-layered defensive approach, including sea denial and interdiction capabilities at sea and in the air, to ensure the security of nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs) during their operations. These bastions are strategically positioned to provide defence in depth and protect Russia's second-strike nuclear assets, particularly emphasizing the importance of the Kola Peninsula and its surrounding areas for Russian national security.