Russia starts exercise with tactical nuclear weapons
Russia has launched a military exercise involving tactical nuclear weapons on the border with Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said on Thursday, claiming it was a response to threats from the West.
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The Moscow executive said the exercise corresponds to an order given by Russian President Vladimir Putin in early May, in the Southern Military Region, on the border with Ukraine, and covers annexed Ukrainian regions.
"The first phase of exercises (...) on the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons has already begun," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The Defense Ministry explained that, during this phase, Russian soldiers are training the transportation of "special ammunition" in Iskander missile batteries, and also their movement "in a hidden way" to firing zones.
These exercises involve aviation and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, according to the statement.
"The current exercise aims to maintain the readiness of personnel and equipment (...) for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, to respond and ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian State in response (...) to threats from certain Western authorities," the Ministry said.
Vladimir Putin ordered these nuclear exercises to be carried out in early May, in response, according to the Kremlin, to Western threats, namely to the possibility raised by French President Emmanuel Macron of sending troops to Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, in February 2022, Putin has spoken vehemently about a possible use of nuclear weapons.
Russia deployed tactical nuclear weapons in the summer of 2023 in Belarus, its closest ally, which also announced in May a synchronized exercise with Moscow to check its launchers.
The Russian nuclear doctrine provides for a "strictly defensive" use of atomic weapons, in the event of an attack on Russia with weapons of mass destruction or in the event of aggression with conventional weapons "threatening the very existence of the State".
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