Russia has test-fired nuclear missiles from land, sea and air as it simulated a “massive” response to an attack from the West, with President Vladimir Putin warning that Russia would respond to any attack with “overwhelming” nuclear firepower.
“Taking into account growing geopolitical tensions and emerging new threats and risks, it’s important for us to have modern strategic forces that are always ready for combat,” Putin said.
The Russian military test-fired a Yars nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk launchpad, while two nuclear-powered submarines in the Barents Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk launched ballistic missiles that can be armed with nuclear warheads. Tu-95 strategic bombers also launched practice long-range cruise missile attacks.
Andrey Belousov, Russia’s minister of defence, told Putin that the exercise simulated Russia’s “strategic offensive forces launching a massive nuclear strike in response to a nuclear strike by the enemy”.
The move comes as tensions remain high between Russia and the West over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In September, Putin lowered the threshold to launch a nuclear strike in Russia’s military doctrine.
Analysts noted that while the nuclear drills were planned in advance and not a direct reaction to recent exercises by the U.S., they reflect the increasing nuclear dangers amid the geopolitical tensions.
“Important to add that these exercises are planned long in advance and not a direct reaction to the other,” said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists.
Ukraine is still trying to persuade its Western partners to allow it to fire Western-made long-range missiles at Russia, a move that the Kremlin has warned would trigger a major response.
