Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that Russia was conducting nuclear deterrence drills that involved the firing of missiles from the air, land, and sea.
“Today, we are conducting a regular training exercise for our strategic deterrence forces,” Putin said, according to the Kremlin’s website. “This exercise will involve practicing the procedures for officials in managing the use of nuclear weapons, including practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles.”
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said the drills simulated the “strategic offensive forces launching a massive nuclear strike in response to a nuclear strike by the enemy.”
Putin said it was important for Russia’s strategic forces to be in a state of “constant combat readiness” in light of “escalating geopolitical tensions and the emergence of new external threats and risks.”
The Russian drills come a few days after NATO concluded its annual nuclear drills, known as Steadfast Noon. The exercises were conducted over Belgium and the Netherlands and in airspace over Denmark, the UK, and the North Sea.
“This training activity involved 13 Allied countries, approximately 2,000 military personnel and a variety of more than 60 aircraft, including nuclear-capable jets, bombers, and fighter escorts,” NATO said in a press release announcing the end of the drills.
“Refuelling aircraft and planes capable of reconnaissance and electronic warfare also took part in the exercise designed to ensure the strength and credibility of NATO’s nuclear deterrent,” the press release added.
The NATO and Russian nuclear drills come amid soaring tensions between the two nuclear-armed powers. Putin recently ordered changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine to lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons in direct response to the US considering supporting long-range strikes inside Russian territory with NATO missiles.
