Russia conducted long-range missile tests on Tuesday, to simulate a “massive” nuclear retaliation in response to an enemy first strike. The exercise involved Russia’s full nuclear “triad” of ground, sea and air missiles.
According to Reuters, President Vladimir Putin said that due to the growing “geopolitical tensions” and emerging external threats, it was important to have morning readily deployable strategic forces has become necessary.
This exercise took place during a critical moment in the Russia-Ukraine war, following weeks of Russian warnings to the West that Moscow would respond if the United States and its allies allowed Kyiv to fire longer-range missiles deep into Russia.
On Monday, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said that North Korea had sent troops to western Russia, which Russia has not denied.
Defense Minister Andrei Belousov reported that the exercise is intended to practice “strategic offensive forces launching a massive nuclear strike in response to a nuclear strike by the enemy,” as per the Associated Press (AP).
As per Reuters, Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Plesetsk cosmodrome in northwest Russia to Kamchatka, a peninsula in the far east. Aside from this, Sineva and Bulava ballistic missiles were fired from submarines and cruise missiles were launched from strategic bomber planes, the defence ministry said.
Russian officials warned of the 2-1/2-year-old war entering its dangerous phase, as Western countries deliberated on providing additional support to Ukraine while Russian forces advanced in the east of the country.
Putin said using nuclear weapons would be an “extremely exceptional measure”.
“I stress that we are not going to get involved in a new arms race, but we will maintain nuclear forces at the level of necessary sufficiency,” Reuters quoted Putin.
He further said that Russia was moving to new “stationary and mobile-based missile systems” which have a reduced launch preparation time and could overcome missile defence systems, as per Reuters.
Earlier this year, the Russian military held a joint nuclear exercise with Moscow’s ally Belarus, which has hosted some of Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons.
