Russia's nuclear drills spark global tension and concern
The Russian military has conducted large-scale exercises for the second time since the beginning of 2024, aimed at simulating the use of nuclear weapons. The exercises involved the full deployment of the so-called nuclear triad and were carried out under the direct supervision of Vladimir Putin.
Many of the details reported by Russian media or government representatives are elements of propaganda. Such reports form part of the information war conducted by the Russian Federation.
According to Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, the manoeuvres included a simulation of a full-scale nuclear conflict. According to the scenario practised, the enemy attacks Russian territory, and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation respond with a massive nuclear strike.
From land, sea, and air
During these exercises, the intercontinental ballistic missile "Yars" was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome and reached its target at the Kura test range on Kamchatka.
Meanwhile, nuclear submarines stationed in the Barents Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk launched "Sineva" and "Bulava" ballistic missiles, while strategic bombers Tu-95MS conducted tests with cruise missiles.
The Ministry of Defence emphasised that all tasks were carried out completely, and the missiles reached their targets.
Russia last conducted major nuclear exercises mid-year, in cooperation with the Belarusian army. At that time, tactical nuclear strikes were rehearsed using systems provided to Belarus by Moscow in 2023. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained these actions were due to the escalation of tensions on the international stage and speculation about the possibility of NATO forces being deployed in Ukraine.
- This represents a completely new level of tension escalation, requiring special attention and additional precautions - Peskov stated at the time.
Putin, commenting on the current exercises, explained that the use of nuclear weapons is an "extreme and ultimate measure, used only to ensure the country's security." He also announced continued modernisation of nuclear forces, which, according to him, are currently composed of 94 per cent modern equipment.
Putin recalled that at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, he announced placing Russian nuclear forces on "special combat readiness," and six months later threatened to use "all available means" to defend the Ukrainian territories he had annexed.
Russia modifies nuclear doctrine
At the beginning of 2023, Russia also suspended its participation in the New START treaty on the reduction of strategic offensive arms, which until then had been the last bilateral nuclear arms control agreement between the USA and Russia.
In the summer of 2024, Putin announced preparations to amend the Russian nuclear doctrine. These changes are related to Western discussions on lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons and work on highly precise low-yield nuclear warheads. Currently, the Russian doctrine allows for the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a nuclear threat or a "threat to the existence of the state."
