Moscow said on the eve of Putin’s new term that it would practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons as part of a military exercise after what the Russia said were threats from France, Britain and the United States.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Russia has repeatedly warned of rising nuclear risks – warnings which the United States says it has to take seriously though U.S. officials say they have seen no change in Russia’s nuclear posture.
Russia’s defence ministry reiterated it would hold military drills including practice for the preparation and deployment for use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, according to the order of President Vladimir Putin.
What Will Happen?
‘During the exercise, a set of measures will be carried out to practise the issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,’ he said.
Missile forces in the Southern Military District, aviation and the navy will take part, the defence ministry said.
Why the Rehearsal
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.
Which Country Holds the Biggest Nuclear Powers
Meanwhile, Russia and the United States are by far the world’s biggest nuclear powers, holding more than 10,600 of the world’s 12,100 nuclear warheads while China has the third-largest nuclear arsenal, followed by France and Britain.
