Russia announces plans to conduct tactical nuclear weapon exercises

Russia’s announcement of upcoming drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons has raised concerns and tensions among Western officials. The Defence Ministry stated that the drills are in response to “provocative statements and threats” made by certain Western officials regarding Russia.

This marks the first time that Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, a move that is seen as a warning to Ukraine’s Western allies about getting more deeply involved in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent statement about not excluding sending troops to Ukraine, along with U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s remarks about Kyiv’s forces using British long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia, have further escalated tensions between Russia and NATO.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described these statements as dangerous and unprecedented, prompting the need for special attention and measures. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, warned that such comments could lead to a “global catastrophe.”

The use of tactical nuclear weapons in the drills is a significant development, with the United States estimating that Russia has around 2,000 such warheads, ten times more than Washington. These weapons can have yields multiple times greater than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has already strained relations between Russia and the West, with accusations of hybrid activities and threats of wider war. The recent deadly strikes in Russia’s Belgorod region by Ukrainian drones have further intensified the situation, resulting in casualties and injuries.

As tensions continue to rise, the international community is closely watching the developments in the region, hoping to prevent any further escalation of the conflict.