Russia: Russia has started the first round of tactical nuclear weapons training using Iskander and Kinzhal missiles in territories bordering Ukraine.
The exercises are being held in Russia’s Southern Military District, which borders and encompasses areas of Ukraine that Moscow has unlawfully seized and occupied since its full-scale invasion started in February 2022, according to a statement released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on Tuesday.
The precise site of the drills was not disclosed by the ministry. It is also anticipated that Belarus, where Russia claimed last year to be putting tactical nuclear weapons, will participate.
Since commencing its extensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has made a point of highlighting its nuclear weapons stockpile and its preparedness to use them in the event of a security breach.
According to nuclear experts, Vladimir Putin is using the drills as a warning to Ukraine’s Western friends, who have given Kyiv arms and intelligence, to keep them from getting more involved in the conflict.
The exercises are to ensure that 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 in response to provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials against the Russian Federation”, the ministry said.
Following suggestions from Western officials that they could be willing to take their backing of Ukraine a step further, Putin ordered the drills.
David Cameron, the foreign minister of the United Kingdom, stated that Kyiv had the right to launch Western missiles onto Russian territory earlier this month, while French President Emmanuel Macron stated he had not ruled out sending troops to Ukraine under certain circumstances.
Russia’s Southern Military District, which has its headquarters at Rostov-on-Don, 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the Ukrainian border, serves as the command centre for its offensive against that country.
The Ministry of Defence released footage of soldiers at an airbase preparing a bomber to carry a nuclear payload, and trucks transporting missiles to a field where launch systems were ready.
TOP PICK | Russia expels UK defence attache amid espionage accusations
