Russia to practice tactical nukes scenario in drills
MOSCOW—Russia said on Monday it would hold a military exercise to include practice for the use of tactical nuclear weapons after what the defense ministry said were provocative threats from Western officials.
The ministry said the exercise was ordered by President Vladimir Putin and would test the readiness of nonstrategic nuclear forces to perform combat missions.
The military drills will include practice for the preparation and deployment for use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons, the defense ministry said. Missile formations in the Southern Military District and naval forces will take part.
‘Provocation’
“During the exercise, a set of measures will be carried out to practice the issues of preparation and use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons,” the ministry said.
The exercise is aimed at ensuring Russia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty “in response to provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation,” it said.
It did not name the officials. But Russia has repeatedly said that remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron about a possible French intervention in Ukraine are extremely dangerous.
Russia says the United States and its European allies are pushing the world to the brink of confrontation between nuclear powers by supporting Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars of weapons in its fight against the Russian forces that invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
