Russian military forces have initiated extensive exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons near the Ukrainian border, signaling a stern warning to Western nations amid rising tensions. The drills, announced earlier this month by Russian authorities, are taking place within the Southern Military District. This strategic region not only borders Ukraine but also encompasses areas that Moscow has either annexed or partially occupies, including Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
According to a statement from Russia’s Defense Ministry, the primary objective of these exercises is to test “the readiness of personnel and equipment of non-strategic nuclear weapons combat units to respond and to unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state.” The ministry further highlighted that these drills are a reaction to “provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation.”
Notably, the announcement pointed to recent comments by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron. Macron’s suggestion that NATO countries might not rule out sending troops to Ukraine, and Cameron’s assertion that Kyiv had the right to use Western-supplied missiles against Russian targets, were cited as key provocations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described these statements as “a new round of escalation” and underscored their role in prompting the nuclear drills.
The drills involve practicing the loading and deployment of various launch vehicles and aircraft. Footage released by the Russian Defense Ministry shows troops preparing Kinzhal and Iskander hypersonic missiles, which are capable of delivering tactical nuclear warheads. These exercises underscore Russia’s capacity to employ such weapons in the event of a significant threat to its territorial integrity.
Analysts perceive these drills as a strategic move by President Vladimir Putin to deter further Western intervention in the Ukraine conflict. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has frequently underscored its nuclear capabilities and its readiness to use them defensively. Former Soviet and Russian arms control official Nikolai Sokov remarked, “The exercises are, obviously, a signal in response to discussion of NATO countries’ troops in Ukraine.”
Western militaries are closely monitoring these exercises to gauge the potential warning time they would have if Russia decided to deploy such weapons in an actual conflict scenario. Tactical nuclear weapons, unlike strategic ones, are designed for battlefield use and have not been subjected to the same arms control agreements that limit intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The timing and visibility of these drills are particularly notable. This is the first instance where Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, suggesting a new level of transparency aimed at conveying a deterrent message to NATO and its allies. Nuclear analysts suggest that these drills are intended to showcase Russia’s readiness to employ its tactical nuclear arsenal, which includes approximately 1,558 non-strategic warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
Relevant articles:
– Russia begins nuclear drills in warning to West , New York Post, 05/23/2024
– Russia begins nuclear drills in an apparent warning to West over Ukraine, The Associated Press, 05/22/2024
– Russia starts ‘tactical nuclear drills’ near Ukraine border, Al Jazeera English, 05/22/2024
– Russia begins tactical nuclear weapon drills near Ukraine border, The Guardian, 05/21/2024
– Russia Begins Drills Of Tactical Nuclear Weapons Near Ukrainian Border, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 05/21/2024
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