Russian President Vladimir Putin flew on a nuclear-capable strategic bomber on Thursday in an apparent show of force against the West.

State media showed Putin taking a brief flight on a modernized Tu-160M “Blackjack” bomber from a factory runway in Kazan. The supersonic aircraft is capable of carrying nuclear cruise missiles with a range of over 7,500 miles.

The flight comes just days after opposition leader Alexei Navalny was found dead in prison under suspicious circumstances. It also precedes next month’s Russian presidential election, which Putin is expected to easily win for a fourth term.

Analysts see Putin’s bomber flight as a defiant message to the West amid strained relations over Russia’s war in Ukraine. It flaunts the country’s long-range nuclear strike capabilities.

In 2018, Russia signed a contract to purchase 10 upgraded Tu-160M bombers by 2027, with each one costing around $163 million.

Putin previously flew in an older version of the Cold War-era bomber back in 2005. This latest flight demonstrates Russia’s continued investment in modernizing its strategic nuclear forces.

With tensions near a boiling point, Putin appears intent on rattling the nuclear saber against his adversaries in the U.S. and NATO. His bomber ride drives home the looming threat as the Ukraine conflict continues to escalate.