bounty day cruises athens

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Motor Sailer Bounty

Charter motor sailer bounty in athens, charter motor sailer bounty day cruise.

Charter Motor Sailer Bounty, an amazing Pirate style gulet boat! She has been completely refit in 2017. 

Renown naval designer Adonis Ploutis gave the ship an authentic pirate feel and utilized its spaces perfectly for maximum comfort.

M/S Bounty boasts 2 huge sun decks (90 sq.m ) and 2 big indoor lounges (55 sq. m.) which is more than enough room for up to 46 passengers when sailing.

Motor Sailer Bounty is equipped with a kitchen, showers, bathrooms & wc, top deck bar, BBQ, WIFI, LCD screens, LED lighting and water toys. 

M/S Bounty is by far the most fun cruise ship in the Greek waters with a very professional and warm crew team!

The pirate style ship is available for Day cruises and night sailing to the gorgeous Greek islands and Saronic gulf.  

Most popular and recommended destinations are Aigina, Agistri, Fleves, Methana, Epidaurus, Corinth Canal, Poros, Hydra and Temple 

of Poseidon in Sounion or all over Greece (upon request). 

During the cruise passengers will enjoy Greek or international music and dancing, BBQ, swimming, sunbathing, karaoke, games and 

much more tailor made events. M/S Bounty also is available for birthday parties, pirate themed cruises, corporate/team-building cruises, 

wedding receptions and other events. 

You may choose between: a Full Day Cruise, Half Day Cruise, Night / Sunset Cruise or Sightseeing cruise. All events are possible from corporate, incentive and bonding events, business dinner, wedding parties, or any other special occasion. 

There is also possibility to arrange a great Treasure hunting game feeling adventurous and explore secrets through quizzes and drills!

For more information and the best price, please send us a request below! 

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Send us a request with your needs to help you plan your trip, m/s bounty day cruise, our newsletter, we will keep you posted on latest yacht news & offers.

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Peloponnese

Treasure hunt, other activities, destinations.

Explore Our Favorite Summer Bounty Destinations

Explore the saronic islands.

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Popular Destinations

Explore Peloponnese

Corinth canal.

Explore the Athens Riviera

What is On Board?

Food & drink.

Top Deck Bar | Kitchen | BBQ

WiFi | LCD Screens | LED ligting | Latest navigational system | Sound System

Swimming ladder | Outside Showers

Fishing | Diving | Snorkeling | Water Toys

INCREDIBLE BOUNTY BOATS & DAILY CRUISES  

Two bounty boats, great destinations, bar & kitchen, know what you're looking for search by cruise type, full day cruise, half day cruise, sunset cruise, μeeting cruise, event in the marina, what our clients say about our cruises.

Experience unforgettable adventures with Bounty Day Cruises – where every voyage is a treasure.

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Destination: Sun Princess, a ship you won't want to leave

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

When I returned from a seven-day cruise from Athens to Barcelona, in May, my wife asked me “Where did you like the most?” My answer surprised me – the ship. The Sun Princess.

It wasn’t a snap decision, I thought about the beautiful ports of call we stopped at: Bar, Montenegro, Corfu, Sicily, and Naples. And with the embarkation port in Athens, Greece I had had time the evening before to visit the Parthenon, built in the 400s as a temple to the goddess Athena. Admittedly I could only look up at the temple columns as the gates were closed. When I asked a local who was walking the grounds why, she said “It’s a big holiday in Greece.” It was Easter Friday.

The architecture and the history of Greece, the coast of Italy with its hills climbing steady away from the shore, walking through the remnants of the Roman fortress in Old Town Bar, seeing thousand-year-old olive groves and newly-planted orange trees street side, the climbing bougainvillea on the hillsides and buildings, is enchanting and holds enough beauty, allure and charm to entice anyone back for more.

In the Old Town of Bar, Montenegro is the oldest medieval archaeological site in the Balkans.But the most captivating magic of the cruise was the Sun Princess itself. Given a choice I would have chosen to stay aboard for its next leg in Europe and crossed the ocean on it as it repositioned for its winter run in the Caribbean. With five pools, nine hot tubs, 30  restaurants and bars, the South Korean masseuse who worked my shoulders in the Lotus Spa, and the onboard activities and shows, there’s magic aboard.

Maybe it’s the slight of hand service paired with technology, but onboard the Sun Princess I felt like I had arrived at my destination. Here’s five reasons you’ll love this boat:

Princess Cruises Medallion Club

Before boarding each passenger is given a quarter-sized medallion that becomes your identification, key, and access to information.

Crew members and bartenders you haven’t yet met will know you by name (your information automatically beams to their displays) and tells them all about your preferences, allergies they may need to be aware of, and maybe even the drink you want.

In combination with the Princess Cruise App you can order food and drinks from anywhere onboard, including pool-side, and staff will bring your order to your location.

There’s more than 7,000 sensors built into the ship that allow the medallion to work. Bottom line – show it off on its lanyard or put it away in your pocket. It’s a geo-tracker, near-field sensor that from about two metres away will also open doors for you and provides key-less entry to your suite. As you approach your cabin – it automatically unlocks.

Spellbound by Magic Castle

Welcome to the Victorian high society club, I can’t tell you all their secrets but it is a collaboration with Los’ Angeles’s Magic Castle. Which perhaps explains the privileged air of elitism and back-room access I got I sign up for this evening of magic.

Only 90 people per night are welcomed into Spellbound. The cost is $149 and includes a private four-course dinner. Guests are then escorted to the locked door and ushered into a speak-easy styled den of wonder and magic. Part Harry Potter (moving photos) and part James Bond you’ll be entranced by the ghosts and gadgets that move through the room.

At it’s heart is magic, mixology and theatrical secrets that astound. Try the Escape from Houdini’s Chest, a elixir that comes with handcuff and has to be taken from a smoking chest.

In the end the magician broke all the rules and told us the trick he was going to do and how he was going to do it – and we were still bewildered and amazed. I could have stayed all night, but I suspect you have to leave before the sun comes up.

The piazza atrium is at the heart of the Sun Princess

The piazza is both the heart of the ships entertainment and its living room. At the centre is the circular atrium which is open to Decks 7, 8,  and 9, with seating for guests to watch and participate in the days activities including: yoga, Zumba classes, dancing, game shows, live music presentations, disco and sometimes a late-night night club.

Made to reflect the town squares of Europe there is constant coming and goings here as passengers shop, visit the cafes and bars, or just people watch. It’s an experience that changes every day and every hour.

Food and drink – Freshness and Fun

With 14 restaurants on board, seven of which are specialty restaurants it’s a challenge to try them all in seven days. I managed to eat at eight of them. I interviewed the one man who has tasted everything; Peter Priestley, the Sun Princess’s food and beverage director. Here’s what he told me:

“Freshness and fun are the goals for every meal. We are making everything from scratch and that makes me proud. From bread rolls to pizza dough everything is hand made. Even our ice cream is made on board from scratch. The pastry chefs have gone to Gelato to be certified so we can serve certified Gelato.

“For Kai Sushi, which will be rebranded Mokoto Ocean in partnership with Makoto Okuwa, all the ingredients are shipped from Japan. They are fresh as fresh can be. Even the main dining menus and The Catch by Rudi its all local fresh produce, picked up at ports throughout the voyage.

“ Love by Romero Britto is a collaboration with Britto the famous Miami artist to create a dining experience. It’s $149 for a seven-course tasting menu that’s all about love. It’s going to be a beautiful experience. A lot of fish, oysters, a beautiful sea bass, lobster, a fillet…little samples.

“We have a collaboration with Dario, an eighth generation butcher, for a seven-course meal in The Butcher’s Block , created family-style with big tables. And everything you sample in Dario’s is Dario’s. The salt, the herbs, the oil, the meat, the glass wear… everything about that experience is Dario’s. We work with our partnerships to take that experience from land to sea.

“ Sabatini’s — we pride ourselves on our pasta and on our Italian history. It’s all made on board. There’s a pasta room on Deck 8, just in front of Sabatini’s, where you will see the chefs making the pasta every day.

“Umai Teppanyaki and Hot pot, is one of those restaurants you go into and you wouldn’t realize you are on a cruise ship.

“All this and no buffet, at least not in the get up and serve your self tradition. The Eatery is the Sun Princess main food station with 13 stations, but we serve in the form of a food-court.

“On Princess Cruises we’ve had that history of making everything from scratch. It makes me proud. If you are a foodie Sun Princess blows your socks off.”

The culture of Princess Cruises

Sometimes it’s the little things that show the DNA of a company:

On my way to Good Spirits bar I came around a hallway a find a group of about ten, golf clubs and drinks in hand, having a putting contest on the carpet. I thought they had gone roque, only to see a staff member playing along with them. I checked and there it was listed in the daily activities.

The fresh flowers placed in our room on the second day.

The PSG v Dortmund semi-final soccer match of the UEFA champions league live on the big screen replacing the Under the Stars movie.

Free five minute neck-and-shoulder massages, when passengers returned from shore excursions in Sicily.

Drinking Irish whiskey in O’Malley’s Irish Pub while the whole bar sang along to a live band playing “The Unicorn.”

The writer was hosted by Princess Cruises in May 2024. The interview with Peter Priestley was condensed and edited for space. 

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Russian River Cruises

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• Moscow — St. Petersburg
• Moscow — Astrakhan
• Astrakhan — St. Petersburg
• St. Petersburg
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Russia is again welcoming travelers!

• A negative PCR test is all that's needed to enter Russia
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Luxurious river cruises in russia.

Explore authentic Russian cities. Enjoy premium service and engaging activities as you sail the Volga River.

2022 Cruise Season

Join our signature small group journeys and cruise in luxury along the Russian Volga river!

The Russian Odyssey

An extended 'South to North' view of Russia from Astrakhan to St. Petersburg through Moscow.

Explore Moscow, St. Petersburg and Russia’s Golden Ring in greater depth. Stay at gorgeous Four Seasons hotels. Enjoy special access to iconic cultural sites.

Lower Volga

Treat yourself to an unforgettable experience cruising the Volga river from Moscow to Astrakhan. The tour includes 2 nights in Moscow.

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Select destination Moscow — St. Petersburg Moscow — Astrakhan Astrakhan — St. Petersburg

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A Volga river cruise is more than a geographical voyage; it’s also a journey through Russia’s rich and captivating history. No other experience takes you so completely to another place and time. The Volga is Europe’s longest and largest river; it meanders through the stories of Ivan the Terrible and his rise to power, the two historic ‘Greats’ Peter and Catherine, and then on into today. It’s a unique opportunity to see modern Russia in the context of its intriguing history, ably assisted by friendly and professional academics and tour guides. A Volga Dream Russian river tour promises to leave you with an unforgettable afterglow of fond memories.

Moscow to St. Petersburg River Cruise

Moscow and St. Petersburg are Russia’s best-known cities, but the towns of Russia’s historic Golden Ring are delightful too. The luxurious Volga Dream offers a unique opportunity to visit these Russian gems by sailing gently along the Volga River on an unforgettable cruising experience. In small, exclusive groups you’ll enjoy preferential access to some of Russia’s most significant cultural sites.

Moscow to Astrakhan River Cruise

Your River Cruise on the luxurious MS Volga Dream takes you from Moscow along Russia’s grand Volga River to the legend that is Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) and Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea. Along the way, you’ll discover the treasures of Yaroslavl, the oldest city on the Volga, medieval Nizhniy Novgorod and beautiful Kazan, the ancient Tatar capital. We plan our tour carefully to combine the very best of Moscow with a world-class Volga River cruise.

Discover Russia with MS Volga Dream - Click-through map

We love hearing from guests about their time in Russia and one comment often hear is how surprised people are by the Russian capital. We can’t say for certain what people expected but we do know that it’s always far removed from what they imagined! It’s been called a modern metropolis, a cosmopolitan city, an historic gem, an architectural treasure and a cultural powerhouse, among other descriptions. Majestic Moscow has always surprised our guests and left them with lasting and fond memories.

Russia’s famous Golden Ring is an archipelago of historic towns surrounding Moscow. Uglich is one of the oldest and was founded under Igor, the last Varangian prince. It once resisted the Mongol invasion and its ancient walls saw the grisly murder of young Dmitri, son of Ivan the Terrible. The impressive Church of St. Dmitri on the Blood, with its classic onion domes and blood red walls, is a fine example of classic Russian architecture. The tour ends with an enchanting choral concert.

This, the oldest city on the Volga River, and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts a wealth of ancient orthodox treasures. The impressive Transfiguration of the Savior, adorned with murals depicting St. John’s apocalyptic visions can be seen in the Spassky Monastery. The Church of St. Elijah the Prophet is decorated with an awe-inspiring selection of rich frescoes. For a real taste of pre-revolutionary Russia, visitors are entertained by a costumed reception at the Governor’s House.

Close to the shores of White Lake once were the ‘tsar’s fishing grounds’. It lies in a place so serene that ancient monks chose to build no fewer than three holy sites here, including the Ferapontov Monastery. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, its chapels boast magnificent frescoes by Dionysius, one of Russia’s most renowned icon painters. The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery was a refuge for many nobles during tumultuous times and later a fortress that successfully repelled invading armies.

The Karelia region is a vast and naturally beautiful wilderness that spreads all the way from St. Petersburg to the Arctic Circle. The glorious island village of Kizhi consists almost entirely of the traditionally styled wooden buildings of ‘Old Russia’. Among them is the famous Transfiguration Church built in 1714. Remarkably, and in testament to the craftsmen of the time, not a single nail was used in its construction! Kizhi is one of the favorite stops on the river cruise to St. Petersburg.

A typical rural hamlet brought to life by warm and welcoming villagers. Volga Dream guests are invited into local homes to enjoy classic Russian fare, tea with jam and ‘pirozhki’ (pies). Enthusiastic hosts share Russian traditions and the appeal of village life while proudly showing off their scrupulously kept homes and kitchen gardens. The tour continues with a brief bus ride to see a unique World War II memorial and then, for a real glimpse of Russian life, a visit to a local primary school.

Nizhny Novgorod

This was once a wealthy city thanks to its proximity to rich eastern trading routes. During the Soviet era, the city was closed to outsiders because of its military importance. It’s also where many political prisoners were sent to live out their days in exile. The 16th-century Kremlin ramparts offer spectacular views and the city is known for its elaborately decorated churches. For Volga Dream cruise guests, the highlight of the day is an evening folk concert performed by local children.

Sailing along the Volga river, the riverbank gradually ceases to be dominated by Orthodox churches. Instead, beautiful mosques appear as the river crosses into Tatarstan where the first stop is scenic Kazan, the region’s capital. Inside the white walls of the citadel, the famous Kul Sharif mosque and the old Cathedral of Peter and Paul stand side-by-side symbolizing the two faiths’ long and peaceful coexistence in the region. A concert of traditional Tatar music ends the Volga Dream tour in Kazan.

Passing the Zhigulevskie Mountains offers wonderful views from the sundeck before touring the city. One of the key attractions is the fascinating Space Museum, which offers a revealing glimpse of how the Soviet Union pursued its ambitious journey to the cosmos. The town is also noted for its beautiful esplanade, perfect for a relaxed stroll beside the Volga river. This in turn leads to the Samara State Art Museum. Founded in 1897, it is home to a collection of more than 16,000 works of art.

This city is best known for its close associations with cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin. The Russian hero who achieved worldwide fame as the first man in space lived and studied here. Saratov used to be home to a large German community, a heritage that can still be seen in the local architecture. The Volga Dream tour visits the Radishchev State Art Museum, the first picture gallery in Russia outside Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Originally called Tsaritsyn, the city was renamed Stalingrad from 1925 to 1961 in honor of the USSR’s leader. During World War II, the city’s residents put up a heroic defense, repelling an advancing Nazi invasion. The battle for Stalingrad has gone down in history as a pivotal moment in the bloody conflict on the eastern front. The most ferocious and deadly fighting took place on Mamayev Hill, where an imposing memorial now stands close to the excellent Battle of Stalingrad Panorama Museum.

Saint Petersburg

If Moscow surprises, then St Petersburg delights. Peter the Great founded the city to showcase Russia’s newfound enlightenment. He wanted to show the modern world a cultured and advanced society. In short, he built the city to impress and in that he succeeded splendidly! The striking buildings were designed by some of the finest architects Europe had to offer and even now, the ‘Venice of the North’ never fails to enchant with its spectacular buildings and impressive canal network. It is a city of true grandeur.

Cocktails with the Captain

Commanding any ship is a complex role that calls for a long list of skills. Captains know their vessels inside out as well as well as the routes they sail and when things don’t go to plan, they have to make instant decisions. Above all though, the most important part of the job, underpinning everything they do, is to keep the ship and everyone aboard safe. The Captain’s cocktail party is a great and a wonderful opportunity for passengers and crew to get acquainted as the gets underway.

Matryoshka doll painting

There is nothing more typically Russian than a Matryoshka. It embodies the fact that there’s always something deeper to be found in every aspect of Russian life. Learning the traditional designs and techniques used to decorate these iconic dolls offers a pleasant diversion and some cathartic creativity!

Superb Service & Dining

Our restaurant serves the highest standard of international cuisine, freshly made by our Cordon Bleu Chef. Choose either a sumptuous buffet or set menu for lunch while dinner is always four or five courses with full service. High praise for the exquisite quality of meals is yet another constantly recurring feature in feedback from our guests.

Meet the Professor

From the Mongol hordes to Soviet times, Russia’s history is, like all of Europe’s, a complex web of political intrigue, war and peace, trade and treaties, as well as heroes and villains. Academics devote whole lifetimes to studying Russia’s long past and one of them presents a series of lectures shedding light on everything from Gorbachev to Chekhov, Khrushchev to Ivan the Terrible and of course, contemporary Russia. Our Professor is on board throughout the river cruise for informal conversation.

Beginner’s Russian

The Russian language can be rather beautiful and poetic and we know that many seasoned travelers enjoy trying their hand at different languages. Our onboard teachers provide an introduction to the riches of Russian, so guests can try out a few useful words and phrases on real Russians during the exciting river tours from Moscow to St. Petersburg or from Moscow to Volgograd!

Russian tea tasting

The drink we tend to associate with Russia is vodka, but tea, in fact, is the much more universal beverage of choice throughout the country. Guests will get acquainted with the Russian tea etiquette, a fundamental component of the country's social culture, and enjoy the traditional tea ceremony while cruising from St. Petersburg to Moscow or taking a Grand Volga river tour.

Russian Dinner & Vodka Tasting

All our dining is international but for Russian Dining night, the Chef includes a selection of traditional Russian dishes: Chicken Kiev, Kulebyaka and no Russian table is complete without Borsch. To add to the ‘Taste of Russia’ optional Russian dress, or at least a touch of Russian style, is provided along with enthusiastic help from our staff!

Russian Cooking Class

A plate of pelmeni might not look like much to the untrained eye, but it forms the heart of Russian cuisine and culture. Basically, it's a type of dumpling: small portions of meat and onion wrapped in a thin sheet of unleavened dough and boiled, a little like ravioli. Guests can join a Russian cooking class onboard the MS Volga Dream to learn how to cook this delicious Russian dish.

Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov Piano Recital

Some of the greatest classical music ever written comes from Russia. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting stage for a virtuoso solo recital by our resident concert pianist than the mighty Volga or a better backdrop than the heart of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov’s own serene homeland.

Russian River Cruise Aboard Volga Dream

Moscow to St. Petersburg

Why Volga Dream

Family Owned & Operated

MS Volga Dream is Russia’s only family-owned river cruise ship. She can accommodate up to 100 guests, far fewer than most other cruise ships on the river making for a uniquely friendly and intimate atmosphere aboard.

Five-Star Central Hotels

We at Volga Dream are completely convinced that, our guests should stay in great 5-star hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg within comfortable walking distance of all the major attractions, theaters and restaurants, rather than having to waste time in traffic.

Luxurious Accommodation

The MS Volga Dream is the most intimate and elegant 5-star cruise vessel in Russia. She boasts 56 cabins, all river facing, ranging from comfortable Standard Cabins to spacious Junior Suites and the luxurious forward facing Owner's Suite.

Russian Cultural Experience

Explore Russia's past with the help of professional tour guides. Our on-board program includes fascinating talks on Russian history and politics, Russian language lessons, a festival of Russian cuisine (including vodka tasting!), and much more.

Gourmet Dining

Our on board restaurant serves international cuisine to the highest standard, all freshly made by our Cordon Bleu Chef. For Russian Dining night, he prepares a selection of traditional Russian dishes: Chicken Kiev, Kulebyaka and Borsch.

Tailored Service

All our service crew members are native Russians who are fluent in English and handpicked by the Owner. Proudly, the Volga Dream is famous for her hard working and very hospitable personnel who take care of every aspect of your life aboard.

Download Our Brochure

It's never been easier to plan your next holiday in Russia. Download our free brochure to learn more about authentic Russian river cruises.

Escape the hassle and bustle and add a satisfyingly informative element to your trip and bring together a colorful mosaic of people, history, traditions,  religion, music and art. These are the many strands that time has woven into what is known today as Russia.

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Putin sees no need for nuclear weapons to win in Ukraine. But he’s also keeping his options open

FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow, on June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Feb. 2, 2024, Russian troops load an Iskander missile onto a mobile launcher during drills at an undisclosed location in Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

FILE - A Russian Air Force MiG-31K jet carries a high-precision hypersonic aero-ballistic missile Kh-47M2 Kinzhal during the Victory Day military parade to celebrate 73 years since the end of WWII and the defeat of Nazi Germany, in Moscow, on May 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)

FILE - In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Monday, July 1, 2024, Russian soldiers fire from the BM-21 “Grad” self-propelled 122mm multiple rocket launcher in an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, background right, attend a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in Moscow, on June 22, 2024. (Sergei Guneyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on April 14, 2023, a Russian nuclear submarine sails off to take part in the Pacific Fleet drills near Vladivostok, Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

FILE - In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on June 11, 2024, navy personnel take part in drills on board of the Kazan nuclear submarine en route to Cuba. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP, File)

FILE - Soldiers stand next to a Russian RS-24 Yars ballistic missile parked along Tverskaya street prior to a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

FILE - In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry on May 21, 2024, Russian air force crew work at an undisclosed location in Russia on a Tu-22M3 bomber for a training mission as part of military drills with tactical nuclear weapons. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

FILE - In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on June 12, 2024, Russian military personnel load a cruise missile on board a warship during military drills with tactical nuclear weapons. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

FILE - In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on June 13, 2024, Belarusian soldiers operate an Iskander ballistic missile launcher during joint Russian and Belarusian drills with tactical nuclear weapons. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

FILE - In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on March 1, 2024, a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired from a launch pad in northwestern Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

FILE - In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on June 12, 2024, Lt. Gen. Igor Kolesnikov, head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s department in charge of nuclear weapons, makes a statement about the joint Russian and Belarusian tactical nuclear weapons drills while standing in front of a Belarusian ground attack jet. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un exchange documents during a signing ceremony of the new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19, 2024. (Kristina Kormilitsyna, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

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The message to NATO from President Vladimir Putin was simple and stark: Don’t go too far in providing military support for Ukraine, or you’ll risk a conflict with Russia that could quickly turn nuclear.

As the war in Ukraine turns slowly in Moscow’s favor , Putin declared he doesn’t need nuclear weapons to achieve his goals. But he also says it’s wrong for the West to assume that Russia will never use them.

“It mustn’t be treated in a light, superficial way,” Putin said in June, reaffirming that Russia’s nuclear doctrine calls for using atomic weapons if it perceives a threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Moscow’s nuclear messaging — coming as NATO allies move to shore up exhausted and outgunned Ukrainian forces — heralds what could become the most dangerous phase in the war.

Drills, threats and signals

Moscow has carried out drills with its tactical — or battlefield — nuclear weapons in southern Russia and with ally Belarus, where some were deployed in 2023. Russian Defense Ministry videos showed Iskander missile launchers, nuclear-capable warplanes and sea-launched missiles.

The Kremlin described the exercises as a response to the West pondering the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine and allowing Kyiv to use longer-range weapons for limited strikes on Russian territory.

“Reliance on nuclear threats and signals is an enduring trend in Russia’s activities amid the war in Ukraine ,” said Heather Williams, senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Russian leadership may be assuming it has more at stake in Ukraine than NATO, and nuclear threats are one means of signaling its commitment to winning the war in the hopes of scaring off Western intervention.”

Ever since launching the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion, Putin has repeatedly referred to Russia’s nuclear might to discourage Western intervention. The United States and NATO criticized the nuclear saber-rattling but said they haven’t seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture warranting a response.

After early setbacks in Ukraine, Putin said Moscow was prepared to use “all means” to protect Russian territory, fueling fears he could turn to tactical nuclear weapons to halt Kyiv’s advances. Putin later toned down his rhetoric after Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive didn’t achieve its goals .

Amid Russia’s recent military successes, Putin said Moscow doesn’t need nuclear weapons to win in Ukraine. Simultaneously, however, he warned that Kyiv’s strikes on Russian soil with Western-supplied longer-range weapons would mark a major escalation because they would involve Western intelligence and military personnel — something the West denies.

“Representatives of NATO members, particularly in small countries of Europe, should be aware of what they are playing with,” he said, adding they could be mistaken to rely on U.S. protection if Russia strikes them.

“The constant escalation could lead to grave consequences,” he said. “If those grave consequences come to Europe, how will the U.S. act in view of our parity in strategic weapons? Hard to say. Do they want a global conflict?”

Aiming the ‘nuclear pistol’

In May, Russian radar facilities were attacked by Ukrainian drones. One damaged a radar in the southern Krasnodar region, according to satellite images. Another targeted a similar facility in the southern Urals, about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) east of the border.

Both are part of Russia’s early warning system to spot intercontinental ballistic missile launches thousands of kilometers (miles) away. Moscow and Washington rely on such systems to track each other’s launches.

Along with earlier Ukrainian raids on Russian nuclear-capable bomber bases, the radar strikes could qualify as triggers for atomic-weapons use under Moscow’s nuclear doctrine. Russian hawks urged the Kremlin to respond forcefully.

At a June forum in St. Petersburg, Kremlin-connected foreign policy expert Sergei Karaganov urged Putin to “aim a nuclear pistol at our Western adversaries” to achieve victory in Ukraine.

Putin responded cautiously, saying he saw no security threats that warranted using Russia’s nuclear arsenal . At the same time, he indicated Moscow was pondering changes in its nuclear doctrine.

Amending the nuclear doctrine

Since the war began, hawks have urged a revision of the doctrine, which says Moscow could use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear strike or an attack with conventional weapons that threatens “the very existence” of the Russian state. Some of them argue the threshold is too high, leaving the West with the impression that the Kremlin won’t ever touch its nuclear arsenal.

Foreign affairs analyst Dmitri Trenin of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations, a Moscow think tank advising the Kremlin, urged modifying the doctrine to declare that Russia could use nuclear weapons first when “the core national interests are at stake,” like in Ukraine.

“It’s important to persuade the ruling elites in the U.S. and in the West as a whole that they won’t be able to stay comfortable and fully protected after provoking conflict with Russia,” Trenin said.

Climbing the ‘ladder of escalation’

With the West allowing Ukraine to hit Russian territory, Putin threatened to respond by providing weapons to Western adversaries worldwide. He underscored the message in June by signing a mutual defense pact with North Korea , signaling Moscow could start arms deliveries to Pyongyang.

He also declared that Moscow would start producing intermediate-range missiles banned under a Cold War-era pact that Washington and Moscow scrapped in 2019. The Kremlin wouldn’t say where Moscow could deploy the new weapons that were prohibited by the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which outlawed ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,410 miles).

Such nuclear-capable missiles are seen as particularly destabilizing because they can reach targets faster than ICBMs, leaving practically no time for decision-makers and raising the likelihood of a global nuclear war over a false launch warning.

Hawks urged Putin to move quickly up a “ladder of escalation” to push the West to back off.

The exercise with battlefield nuclear weapons was one such move, Trenin said, while another could be an atomic test on Russia’s Arctic Novaya Zemlya archipelago. Putin has left the door open for resuming such tests, which are banned under a global pact that Russia has signed, although he noted “there is no need for that yet.”

Some Russian military experts said Moscow could declare a no-fly zone over the Black Sea to curb U.S. intelligence flights that help Ukraine strike targets in Russia. In late June, the Defense Ministry threatened to take unspecified measures against U.S. drones there.

Trenin and other experts said possible escalatory moves could include cyberattacks on U.S. and European infrastructure, conventional strikes on Western troops if any go to Ukraine, and attacks on military supply hubs for Kyiv on the territory of NATO members. U.S. military bases also could be targeted, they said.

At the top of the ladder, Russia could threaten nuclear strikes on NATO targets in Europe to “sober up the enemy and force it into the talks,” Trenin suggested.

“Active nuclear deterrence means the possibility of using nuclear weapons first in the ongoing conflict — not necessarily on the battlefield and not on the territory of Ukraine,” he said. “The enemy must have no doubt: Russia won’t allow itself to be defeated or blocked from achieving its declared goals by keeping nuclear weapons out of the conflict.”

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