US President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines following an escalating social media confrontation with Russian Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev over Ukraine and sanctions on August 1.

Trump announced the submarine positioning on his Truth Social platform after prolonged online exchanges with Medvedev, transforming what began as digital sparring into tangible military positioning involving nuclear forces.

"Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that. Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances," he wrote on his social media platform TruthSocial. 

Trump's announcement did not clarify whether the submarines were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed vessels, nor did he reveal their positioning, which remains classified by US military protocol.

The confrontation intensified after Medvedev referenced the "fabled 'Dead Hand'" on Telegram - referring to a Cold War-era automated nuclear weapons control system - whilst criticising Trump's sanctions threats.

Medvedev accused Trump of "playing the ultimatum game" and warned the US President to remember Russia's military capabilities, prompting Trump to label him "the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he's still President."

Trump warned Medvedev to "watch his words" as he was "entering very dangerous territory" during their increasingly hostile exchange.

Russian President Vladimir Putin maintained that whilst he desires peace, his conditions for ending the invasion remain unchanged, including Ukrainian territorial concessions and abandoning NATO membership aspirations.

Recent Russian military activity included record drone attacks against Ukraine last month, with a combined missile and drone assault on Kyiv resulting in 31 fatalities, including five children.