The drills were ordered by Russia earlier this month in response to Moscow’s mockery of a number of Western statements over the situation in Ukraine.
Russia said that it was responding to “threats” from the West by announcing the commencement of tactical nuclear weapons drills near Ukraine.
The exercises are being held in Russia’s Southern Military District, which borders and encompasses areas of Ukraine that Moscow claims it has annexed, according to a statement released by the country’s defense ministry on Tuesday. It was vague as to the actual location.
Moscow has boasted about its nuclear arsenal and its readiness to use them in the event of an existential threat during its two-year offensive in Ukraine.
Russia has been charged by the West for reckless nuclear bluster.
According to a statement from the ministry, the purpose of the exercises is to evaluate “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.”
In response to “provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials,” it was stated that they were.
Kinzhal hypersonic missiles
The drills were authorized earlier this month by Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to Moscow’s mockery of a number of Western pronouncements over the situation in Ukraine.
Russian officials cited remarks made by British Foreign Minister David Cameron that Kiev has the right to fire Western missiles into Russian territory, as well as those made by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding NATO nations’ need to consider sending soldiers to Ukraine.
Russia’s operation against Ukraine is coordinated from its Southern Military District. Its main office is located in Rostov-on-Don, which is 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. It encompasses areas of the nation that Russia claims it has unlawfully annexed, including the regions of Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
The Ministry of Defence released video 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.
According to the statement, this was the “first stage” of the exercises, which included driving to approved launch sites, practicing loading launch vehicles, and equipping aircraft with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.
It didn’t say if there had been any test firings.
Nuclear weapons that are intended for use in combat and may be delivered by missiles are referred to as non-strategic or tactical weapons.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
