MOSCOW, Russia: President Vladimir Putin has issued directives for the Russian military to conduct nuclear weapons drills involving the navy and troops stationed near Ukraine, as confirmed by the defense ministry on Monday.
Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Putin has escalated his nuclear rhetoric, emphasizing the “real” risk of nuclear war during his national address in February.
The defense ministry specified that the upcoming drills will encompass exercises focused on the preparation and utilization of non-strategic nuclear weapons, also referred to as tactical nuclear weapons, designed for battlefield deployment and delivery via missiles.
Scheduled to occur “in the near future,” the exercises aim to bolster Russia’s territorial integrity in response to perceived threats from certain Western officials, according to the ministry’s statement.
Participation in the drills will involve aircraft, naval forces, and troops from the Southern Military District, which shares a border with Ukraine and encompasses territories occupied by Russia.
Western officials have expressed growing apprehension over the Kremlin’s nuclear rhetoric amid the ongoing offensive in Ukraine, with Putin frequently invoking Russia’s nuclear doctrine to underscore the country’s military capabilities.
In a significant move last year, Russia annulled its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and withdrew from a key arms reduction agreement with the United States, contributing to heightened concerns surrounding nuclear proliferation.
