Announced by President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Armed Forces carried out ballistic missile launches in the last few hours, simulating what would be a response to a massive nuclear attack. “Given the increasing geopolitical tensions and the emergence of new external threats, it is important to have modern strategic forces ready to be deployed at any moment,” expressed the Russian president.
The purpose of the ballistic missile launch drill, noted the Russian Federation’s Minister of Defense, was primarily to practice a “massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear attack,” with missiles being launched from land, sea, and air. This exercise took place a month after President Putin revealed plans to expand Russia’s regulations on the use of nuclear weapons. Analysts suggest this reform aims to send a message to Western countries considering the idea of allowing Ukraine to use such long-range missiles.
In this context, a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was launched from a designated location in Plesetsk, in northwest Russia, toward Kamchatka in the far east. Ballistic missiles Sineva and Bulava were also launched from Russian Navy submarines, and cruise missiles were launched from strategic bombers, according to the Ministry of Defense.
However, the Russian president emphasized that the use of such weaponry is an exceptional measure, stating that the country will maintain its nuclear forces at a level of “necessary sufficiency,” though it does not seek a new arms race.
Since the beginning of the war, Putin has sent multiple signals to the West, including changes in Russia’s stance on nuclear treaties and the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which Ukraine views as “blackmail.”
Meanwhile, NATO has rejected such intimidation, while Russia has expanded the scenarios in which it would use nuclear weapons, now considering any attack supported by a major power as a joint attack. Lastly, although Putin claims he does not need to resort to nuclear weapons to win in Ukraine, the United States remains alert to Russia’s stance and has warned of the grave consequences of their use.
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