Russia and Belarus to Conduct Additional Tactical Nuclear Weapon Exercises
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that the nuclear drills are a fitting response to the West’s backing of Ukraine’s forces.
Russia and Belarus have initiated the second phase of nuclear force exercises, as declared by the Kremlin on Tuesday.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed state-controlled media that the nuclear drills are a reaction to what Russia perceives as escalating actions by the United States and NATO in light of the Ukraine conflict.
Since sending troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly mentioned that Russia could utilize nuclear weapons for defense in extreme circumstances, remarks dismissed by the West as saber-rattling.
Furthermore, Russia connected the nuclear drills directed by Mr. Putin last month to what it considered “provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation.”
During the initial stage of the drills, Russian troops practiced arming and deploying Iskander missiles, while the air force trained on arming Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, according to state-controlled media.
Related Stories
Russia has accused the United States and European allies of pushing the world towards a nuclear confrontation by supplying Ukraine with billions of dollars worth of weapons, some of which are being used against Russia.
A video released by Russia’s defense ministry on social media showed an Iskander missile system being transported into a field with raised missiles. It also depicted MiG-31 supersonic interceptors carrying Kinzhal missiles and Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bombers.
The defense minister also emphasized that the nuclear drills are “an adequate response to the West’s support” for Ukraine’s forces as well as claims that Western leaders have given “permission for Kyiv to launch missile attacks” against Russian assets within Russia.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia does not need to use nuclear weapons to achieve victory in Ukraine, indicating the Kremlin’s firmest signal yet that the conflict will not escalate to a nuclear war. He also mentioned the possibility of changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, outlining the conditions under which such weapons could be utilized.
“The use is possible in an exceptional case, in the event of a threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. I don’t think that such a case has come. There is no such need,” Mr. Putin addressed an economic forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 8, according to a translation of a streaming video feed of the event.
Russian Ships Sent to the Caribbean
The drills come as Cuba’s foreign ministry confirmed on June 6 that Russian navy ships will be deployed around the Caribbean Sea this week.
The foreign ministry’s statement added that Russian sailors will visit various Cuban government officials and places of “historical and cultural interest” and undertake other “activities.”
Neither Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Ministry of Defence have publicly commented on the forthcoming visit. The United States also has not publicly addressed the matter.
Reuters contributed to this report.
