Russian President Vladimir Putin has initiated a series of military drills simulating the use of tactical nuclear weapons, marking a significant and provocative development in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The announcement by Russia’s Defense Ministry, which cited “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials” as the trigger for the exercises, underscores the escalating tensions between Moscow and Western powers.
The drills, which involve the practice of “preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” are being conducted in the Southern Military District, a region encompassing parts of Ukraine that Russia has occupied and illegally annexed since the invasion began in February 2022. Among the military hardware being utilized are Iskander and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, systems known for their capability to deliver tactical nuclear warheads.
Russia’s Defense Ministry explained that the exercises aim to ensure units and equipment are ready for “the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons to respond and unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state.” This move comes in direct response to recent remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron and former UK Prime Minister and current Foreign Secretary David Cameron, which the Kremlin perceived as direct provocations.
Macron had recently reiterated the possibility of deploying French ground troops to Ukraine under certain conditions, a stance that has been met with significant backlash. Similarly, Cameron’s comments affirming Ukraine’s right to use long-range British weapons to strike targets on Russian territory have drawn ire from Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described these statements as “a very important and very dangerous statement” and labeled Cameron’s words as “another very dangerous statement.”
The drills have involved extensive preparations, including the movement of missiles to designated launch fields and the loading of bombers with Kinzhal missiles. The strategic locations of these drills, particularly near Ukraine’s border, are seen as a deliberate message to Western nations regarding the potential consequences of further involvement in the conflict. Nikolai Sokov, a former Soviet and Russian arms control official, noted, “The exercises are, obviously, a signal in response to discussion of NATO countries’ troops in Ukraine. The most important features are advance announcement and visibility.”
Footage released by the Russian Defense Ministry shows trucks carrying missiles and preparations for launching systems, reflecting the serious nature of these exercises. This public display of military readiness is highly unusual, given that nuclear powers typically conduct such drills without much fanfare to avoid exacerbating tensions among other nations.
Relevant articles:
– Putin Orders Tactical Nuclear Weapons Drills in New Meltdown , Yahoo News UK, 05/23/2024
– Russia starts ‘tactical nuclear drills’ near Ukraine border, Al Jazeera English, 05/22/2024
– Ukraine-Russia war news live: Push for US missiles to be fired into Russia as Kyiv destroys Putin ship in Crimea, The Independent, 05/23/2024
– Russia begins tactical nuclear weapon drills near Ukraine border, The Guardian, 05/21/2024
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